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2022 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in California

58 Colleges in California
1,177 Bachelor's Degrees
$34,486 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on getting your bachelor's degree in physics, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #58 in the country in terms of popularity. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for physics students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,177 bachelor's degrees in physics to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Physics School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in California Your choice of school for getting your bachelor's degree in physics matters. We created our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in California ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

A high popularity ranking isn't always a sign that a school has a great overall quality ranking for physics, but it does mean that many students are choosing the school for some reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Associate Degrees in Physics
Master's Degrees in Physics
Doctor's Degrees in Physics
Overall Popularity in Physics

We have also developed a number of other rankings to help guide you in your decision-making process. To begin with, if this is not the degree level you are most interested in, you may want to check out one of the others noted above. If you would prefer to limit your search to a specific state or region of the county, see our rankings by location. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for physics.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in physics.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Physics Students Working on Their Bachelor's

1
161 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#4 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Every student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in physics needs to check out University of California - Santa Barbara. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a fairly large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were roughly 161 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent year we have data available.

Bachelor's recipients from the physics degree program at University of California - Santa Barbara make $2,614 above the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Santa Barbara

2
135 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of California - Berkeley is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in physics. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were roughly 135 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available.

Physics bachelor's degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley earn a boost of approximately $11,314 over the typical earnings of physics graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Berkeley

3
78 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in physics has to check out University of California - San Diego. UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the city of La Jolla. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were about 78 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the physics program report average early career earnings of $21,400.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - San Diego

4
64 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at University of California - Los Angeles if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in physics. Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were roughly 64 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the physics program report average early career earnings of $33,000.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Los Angeles

5
55 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#9 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

UC Irvine is a very large public university located in the large city of Irvine. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #9 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were roughly 55 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Irvine

6
53 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#13 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

CSULB is a very large public university located in the large city of Long Beach.

There were approximately 53 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the physics program earn around $33,900 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from California State University - Long Beach

7
46 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the small suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #8 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were about 46 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduating, physics bachelor's recipients usually earn about $30,600 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Davis

8
43 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#11 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

There were roughly 43 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Santa Cruz in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Santa Cruz

9
39 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#15 Best Quality In CA
$23,820 Median Student Debt

Cal Poly Pomona is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of Pomona.

There were about 39 physics students who graduated with this degree at Cal Poly Pomona in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

10
38 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#6 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the large city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a very large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in California.

There were approximately 38 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UCR in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of California - Riverside

Best Physics Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Physics Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 229 308
Oregon 178 152
Nevada 117 21
Hawaii 115 16
Alaska 79 8

View All Rankings >

Physics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.

Physics Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Physics 1,083
Other Physics 88
Theoretical & Mathematical Physics 6

Majors Similar to Physics

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 1,781
Geological & Earth Sciences 699
Astronomy & Astrophysics 112
Materials Sciences 55
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 34
General Physical Sciences 25
Other Physical Science 8

Notes and References

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