College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2022 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region

136 Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
1,215 Bachelor's Degrees
$41,980 Avg Early-Career Salary
Physics is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #58 most popular bachelor's degree program in the country. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual looked at 136 colleges and universities when compiling its 2022 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,215 bachelor's degrees in physics during the 2019-2020 academic year.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Physics School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region The physics bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. One of the reasons we created our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to help you make that choice.

Being popular does not always equate to overall quality, but a school with a large number of physics students usually has them for a reason. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

More Ways to Rank Physics Schools

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

This ranking is just one of the many we have created. First of all, if you are interested in other degree levels, you may want to take a look at one of the rankings highlighted above. Also, if you are interested in attending school in a specific part of the country, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for physics.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in physics. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

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

1
68 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IL
#3 Best Quality In IL

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a popular choice for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in physics. UIUC is a very large public university located in the small city of Champaign. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Illinois.

There were about 68 physics students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduation, physics bachelor's recipients usually earn about $37,900 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2
65 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In OH
#2 Best Quality In OH

Ohio State University - Main Campus is a popular decision for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in physics. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Ohio.

There were about 65 physics students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent data year.

Bachelor's recipients from the physics major at Ohio State University - Main Campus get $9,820 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Ohio State University - Main Campus

3
63 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In IL
#1 Best Quality In IL

University of Chicago is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in physics. UChicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Illinois.

There were about 63 physics students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent data year.

After graduating, physics bachelor's recipients typically earn around $38,300 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Chicago

4
61 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In WI
#1 Best Quality In WI

University of Wisconsin - Madison is a popular decision for individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in physics. UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the city of Madison. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Wisconsin.

There were approximately 61 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent data year.

After graduating, physics bachelor's recipients generally make an average of $34,900 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Wisconsin - Madison

5
51 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In MI
#1 Best Quality In MI

Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Michigan.

There were about 51 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
46 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In MI
#2 Best Quality In MI

Michigan State is a very large public university located in the city of East Lansing. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Michigan.

There were roughly 46 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent year we have data available.

Those physics students who get their bachelor's degree from Michigan State University receive $5,020 more than the average physics grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Michigan State University

7
38 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IN
#2 Best Quality In IN

Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Indiana.

There were about 38 physics students who graduated with this degree at Purdue in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Purdue University - Main Campus

8
34 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In WI
#2 Best Quality In WI

UW - La Crosse is a large public university located in the city of La Crosse. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Wisconsin.

There were roughly 34 physics students who graduated with this degree at UW - La Crosse in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

9
31 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In IN
#1 Best Quality In IN

Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Notre Dame. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Indiana.

There were roughly 31 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Notre Dame

10
29 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In IL
#6 Best Quality In IL

Illinois State is a very large public university located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Illinois.

There were roughly 29 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Illinois State in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Illinois State University

11
21 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In OH
#4 Best Quality In OH

Located in the fringe town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public university with a large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Ohio.

There were roughly 21 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Miami University - Oxford in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Miami University - Oxford

12
20 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In IN
#3 Best Quality In IN

Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Indiana.

There were roughly 20 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Indiana University - Bloomington

12
20 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In WI
#3 Best Quality In WI

UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public university located in the town of River Falls. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Wisconsin.

There were about 20 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UW - River Falls in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Wisconsin - River Falls

14
Kenyon crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH
19 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In OH

Located in the distant town of Gambier, Kenyon is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

There were about 19 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Kenyon in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Kenyon College

15
18 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In WI
#5 Best Quality In WI

UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public university located in the city of Eau Claire. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Wisconsin.

There were about 18 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at UW - Eau Claire in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

16
17 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In IL
#4 Best Quality In IL

Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Illinois.

There were approximately 17 physics students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Chicago in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Loyola University Chicago

17
16 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In OH
#5 Best Quality In OH

Located in the large city of Cleveland, Case Western is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for bachelor's degrees in physics in Ohio.

There were approximately 16 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Case Western in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Case Western Reserve University

18
15 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In WI
#11 Best Quality In WI

UWM is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Milwaukee.

There were approximately 15 physics students who graduated with this degree at UWM in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

19
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL
14 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In IL

North Central is a small private not-for-profit college located in the midsize city of Naperville.

There were about 14 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at North Central in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from North Central College

19
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, OH
14 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In OH

Located in the small suburb of Granville, Denison is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

There were approximately 14 physics individuals who graduated with this degree at Denison in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in physics from Denison University

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
26 Northwestern University Evanston, IL
26 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH
26 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
26 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
26 Knox College Galesburg, IL
26 Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL
26 Wittenberg University Springfield, OH
21 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
22 Carthage College Kenosha, WI
22 Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL
22 Lawrence University Appleton, WI
22 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH

Best Physics Colleges by State

Explore the most popular physics colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 255 217
Ohio 246 274
Illinois 231 337
Indiana 227 187
Wisconsin 209 201

View All Rankings >

One of 8 majors within the Physical Sciences area of study, Physics has other similar majors worth exploring.

Physics Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Physics 1,193
Other Physics 14
Theoretical & Mathematical Physics 4
Acoustics 3
Condensed Matter & Materials Physics 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 2,325
Geological & Earth Sciences 769
Astronomy & Astrophysics 176
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 130
Other Physical Science 14
General Physical Sciences 7
Materials Sciences 7
Physics and Astronomy 1

Notes and References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options