2026 Best Value Physics Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physics Schools
Purdue University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value physics schools in Indiana. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,948. Physics graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $30,203 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,948 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,687 in student loans. Physics graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,687 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Notre Dame earned it the #3 place for physics. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $69,494. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
