by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for physics students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in physics, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bridgewater State University earned it the #2 place for physics. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,632. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $54,773. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $22,177. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,177 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,984 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Bowdoin College earned the #6 position for value in physics this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,832. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $20,658. Early-career physics graduates make about $58,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #7 for value in physics this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Physics graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $54,669 early in their careers. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Wellesley College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $48,902. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut landed the #9 spot for physics value this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $32,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #10 among the best values for physics. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Middlebury College came in at #11 for value in physics this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,600. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Brown University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $13,025. Early-career physics graduates make about $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University earned the #13 position for value in physics this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Physics graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Yale University earned the #14 position for value in physics this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Wesleyan University placed #15 among the best values for physics. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,125. Early-career physics graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $16,125 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Bates College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,590. Physics graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $43,933. That is a strong return on a $12,226 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University earned the #17 position for value in physics this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Physics graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $49,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University landed the #18 spot for physics value this year. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $25,653. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. That is a strong return on a $25,653 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Tufts University placed #19 among the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $17,074. Physics graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Holy Cross came in at #20 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,500. Students borrow a median of $26,387 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from College Of The Holy Cross generally make around $51,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.