by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Physical Sciences is the 19th most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 5,145 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,669 and $22,079 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 157 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. To top this list, a school must have a successful physical sciences program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The physical sciences 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 “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region”.
Out of the 157 schools in the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Arizona landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 374 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 376 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Texas A&M University - College Station Physical Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 351 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Physical Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Oklahoma is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 234 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 157 schools in the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 231 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Houston came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 215 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 155 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Glendale Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Glendale, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 146 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Physical Sciences at Glendale Community College
Northern Arizona University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 142 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at Northern Arizona University
Chandler-Gilbert Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is located in Chandler, Arizona and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 134 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Rice University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 128 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #12. UT Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas
Mesa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. Mesa Community College is a public institution located in Mesa, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. Avondale, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 101 students in 2020-2021.
Full Estrella Mountain Community College Physical Sciences Report
University of New Mexico - Main Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 106 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at The University of Texas at San Antonio
With a ranking of #17, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school handed out 96 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
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%.
University of North Texas ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. University of North Texas is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 86 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Tulsa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 82 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Tulsa Community College
Baylor University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 81 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 77 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Texas State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 62 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Sam Houston State University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Southwest Region list. SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
