2023 Most Focused Colleges for Physics
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Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 13,447 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 68th most popular in the United States. In , physics graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $42,912 and had an average of $22,477 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major” ranking looked at 955 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. That schools that top this list have a program in physics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Physics Schools
The physics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Physics
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 60 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Physics at Caltech
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Reed College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 11 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Physics at Reed College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvey Mudd College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Physics at Harvey Mudd College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Haverford College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major. This small school is located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 15 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Physics at Haverford
Out of the 955 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Dillard University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Dillard University
Fisk University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Fisk University Physics Report
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Located in Socorro, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Physics at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Coe College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Coe is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Coe College
Amherst College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking, coming in at #9. Amherst College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Amherst College Physics Report
West Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Buckhannon, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at West Virginia Wesleyan
Grinnell College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grinnell, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Physics at Grinnell
With a ranking of #12, Pomona College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Pomona College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Physics at Pomona College
Hendrix College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Hendrix is located in Conway, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Hendrix College Physics Report
Carleton College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 28 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Physics at Carleton
Kenyon College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Gambier, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Kenyon College Physics Report
Hamilton College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Hamilton is located in Clinton, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Physics at Hamilton College
Colby College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Colby is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waterville, Maine. It awarded 24 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Colby College Physics Report
Hampden - Sydney College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Hampden - Sydney College
With a ranking of #19, Knox College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Knox is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 6 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Knox College
Bates College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking, coming in at #20. Lewiston, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 17 students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Physics at Bates College
McMurry University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking, coming in at #21. McMurray University is located in Abilene, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at McMurry University
Colorado College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Colorado College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 15 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Colorado College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 112 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Albion College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major list. Located in Albion, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Albion
Mount Wachusett Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major ranking. This small school is located in Gardner, Massachusetts, and it awarded 7 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at Mount Wachusett Community College