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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region

142 Ranked Colleges
$32,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Physics is the 68th most popular major in the country with 13,447 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,684 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,251 and $21,847 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 142 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.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 the Great Lakes Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region physics students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region

1
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Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio

Out of the 142 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Kenyon College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Gambier, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Kenyon

2
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Knox College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region. Knox College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Knox College

3
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Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Out of the 142 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Albion College landed the #3 spot on the list. Albion is a small school located in Albion, Michigan that handed out 6 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read more about Physics at Albion

4
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Lawrence University
Appleton, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lawrence University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it awarded 4 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Lawrence U

5
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Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kalamazoo College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region. Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 85%.

Read full report on Physics at K College

6
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

Monmouth College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Monmouth, Illinois. It awarded 3 ’s physics 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%. 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 Monmouth College Physics Report

7

The College of Wooster came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Wooster, Ohio, and it awarded 10 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Wooster College

8
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Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Oberlin College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oberlin, Ohio. It awarded 12 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Physics at Oberlin

9
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Earlham College
Richmond, Indiana

With a ranking of #9, Earlham College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Earlham is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Richmond, Indiana. It awarded 3 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Earlham Physics Report

10
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Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Greenville University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Greenville University is located in Greenville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Greenville

11
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Wesleyan is located in Bloomington, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 15 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 full report on Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University

12
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Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Wheaton, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at Wheaton College Illinois

13
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 124 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Physics at UChicago

14
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Marietta College
Marietta, Ohio

With a ranking of #14, Marietta College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Marietta College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marietta, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 8 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 Marietta College

15
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University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 71 ’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 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 University of Notre Dame

16
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Alma College
Alma, Michigan

Alma College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Alma College is a small school located in Alma, Michigan that handed out 2 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Alma College Physics Report

17
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Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Denison University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Granville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.

Full Denison Physics Report

18
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Carthage College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Carthage College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Carthage is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Carthage College

19
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Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Beloit, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Beloit College Physics Report

20
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Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Saint Mary’s College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Saint Mary’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 4 ’s physics 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 full report on Physics at St. Mary’s College

21

Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 3 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology Physics Report

22

University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Full UW - River Falls Physics Report

23
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Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Adrian College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Adrian, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Adrian College Physics Report

24

With a ranking of #24, Ohio Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small school located in Delaware, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at OWU

25
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Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and it awarded 3 ’s physics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois College Physics Report

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