2026 Best Value Physics Schools in New York
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
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2026 list of the best value physics schools in New York. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,683 in student loans. Physics graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $44,562 early in their careers. Set against $21,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Geneseo earned it the #3 place for physics. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. Students from in state pay about $8,999 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,569 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $18,000. Physics graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of $37,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
A rank of #4 makes State University Of New York At New Paltz one of the best values for physics. Set in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,822. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans. Physics graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $41,000 early in their careers. Set against $21,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place for physics. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo placed #6 among the best values for physics. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $22,232. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton placed #7 among the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Physics graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,766. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Colgate University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,306. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $52,924. That is a strong return on a $16,286 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Rochester placed #9 among the best values for physics. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $19,000. Physics graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best values for physics. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physics graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $48,374 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Cornell University came in at #11 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,961 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $50,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Physics graduates carry a median of $20,270 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $60,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
New York University placed #13 among the best values for physics. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from New York University generally make around $34,624. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Vassar College earned the #14 position for value in physics this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,030. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,500. Physics graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $37,412 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vassar College admits about 19% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #15 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $54,785. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong physics education at a price that pays off.
