There are a number of exciting careers an undergraduate degree in physics can lead to, and there are many great undergraduate degree programs from which you can make a choice. By choosing from a list that ranks among the best for a bachelor of physics program, you will be making sure the money you put into your education provides you with a secure future in the field of physics.
Studying physics as an undergraduate can often prepare students for studying other sciences. There are also numerous interdisciplinary applications of physics, making it one of the best choices for students who want to keep their options open.
The physics degree ranking list below is designed to help prospective physics majors choose a school that will give students the best opportunities in the field at the undergraduate level, more so this ranking list will help students discern the best value among affordable undergraduate physics programs so that they are sure they are spending their time and money most optimally.
Moving on, here is the Top 25 Ranked Bachelor of Physics Programs and their University, 2023.
Table of contents
- University of California Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz, California
- Ohio State University Columbus: Columbus, Ohio
- University of Massachusetts Amherst: Amherst, Massachusetts
- University of Arizona: Tucson, Arizona
- University of Chicago: Chicago, Illinois
- University of Wisconsin Madison: Madison, Wisconsin
- University of California Irvine: Irvine, California
- University of Colorado-Boulder: Boulder, Colorado
- University of California Los Angeles: Los Angeles, California
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Washington: Seattle, Washington
- University of Texas Austin: Austin, Texas
- University of Maryland College Park: College Park, Maryland
- University of California Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara, California
- University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Champaign, Illinois
- Johns Hopkins University: Baltimore, Maryland
- Cornell University: Ithaca, New York
- Columbia University: New York City, New York
- University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of California Berkeley: Berkeley, California
- Princeton University: Princeton, New Jersey
- Harvard University: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Stanford University: Stanford, California
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- California Institute of Technology: Pasadena, California
- Conclusion
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University of California Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz, California
Undergraduate Degree in Physics
U.C. Santa Cruz students are encouraged to involve themselves in physics research at every opportunity. The most common way to accomplish this is to take a job as a research assistant. Not only does your part-time job allow you to earn some money while at school, but it serves as an education in and of itself.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #28
30-Year Average Net ROI: $550,200
Ohio State University Columbus: Columbus, Ohio
Bachelor’s of Science in Physics and Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Physics
At OSU even undergraduate students can get funding for research projects through the Physics Summer Research Program. This program allows the student to conduct research through the summer with a faculty mentor overseeing the project. Most attractive about this program is the opportunity for students to begin thinking like a physicist early in their academic career, and to allow them to develop a feel for conducting research based on their own curiosity.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #27
30 Year Average Net ROI: $635,000
University of Massachusetts Amherst: Amherst, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Physics Program
The University of Massachusetts is one of the foremost public research universities in the world. Students at UMass are encouraged to become involved in the many research opportunities at the university.
Some examples of past projects with undergraduate student involvement are Parameter estimation for gravitational-wave bursts, Characterization of a Nal detector for gamma rays, and many more. Students taking advantage of these opportunities will gain experience while impacting the field during even their earliest years of study.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #33
30 Year Average Net ROI: $701,500
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University of Arizona: Tucson, Arizona
Physics Undergraduate Studies
The faculty at the University of Arizona is heavily involved in some of the most cutting-edge physics research in the world. Students will be learning from professors actively pushing the field forward in meaningful ways. On top of this, students are encouraged to pursue research in physics, whether through independent projects, or involvement in some of the university’s most exciting research projects.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #20
30 Year Average Net ROI: $708,300
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University of Chicago: Chicago, Illinois
Physics Undergraduate Program
The University of Chicago is one of the most respected universities in the United States. The approach to involving undergraduates at the University of Chicago is less focused on programs and more focused on researchers and professors developing relationships with students. Often times the best way for a student here to become involved in research is for that student to develop a relationship with a professor whose work genuinely interests them. The professor will often then find a way to incorporate the student into his or her work.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #9
30 Year Average Net ROI: $739,300
University of Wisconsin Madison: Madison, Wisconsin
Physics Major
The University Physical Society at the University of Wisconsin helps students find research opportunities both on campus and through summer research opportunities at other schools. Students are encouraged to seek employment within the physics department that will allow them to engage in physics research professionally from the very beginning.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #26
30 Year Average Net ROI: $784,000
University of California Irvine: Irvine, California
Physics Major
At U.C. Irvine undergraduates do research. This is made possible by the massive research funding the school receives due to its research focus. However, U.C. Irvine places an equal emphasis on the quality of its teaching. Many large research universities have professors that neglect their teaching because they are so wrapped up in research.
This is not the case at U.C. Irvine. Students attending the school can rest assured they are at one of the best physics programs for both the accessibility of research and quality of teaching.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #35
30 Year Average Net ROI: $835,100
University of Colorado-Boulder: Boulder, Colorado
Department of Physics
The University of Colorado-Boulder participates in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate program. This accredited undergraduate physics degree program allows students to travel to other participating schools for summer research programs where they can gain real research experience working in a different environment. Some of the research areas available to participants in the program include Biophysics, Elementary Particle Physics, Geophysics, and Condensed Matter Physics, among others.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #11
30-Year Average Net ROI: $838,700
University of California Los Angeles: Los Angeles, California
UCLA Physics & Astronomy
UCLA is a massive research university and provides students with many opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research even at the undergraduate level. Several on-campus research institutes at UCLA provide summer opportunities for students who want to pursue research outside of the school year. These institutes include the UCLA McNair Summer Research Institute and the Physics and Astronomy Summer Program.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #25
30 Year Average Net ROI: $890,700
University of Michigan Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Physics Undergraduate Program
Research opportunities are numerous at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Students can participate in the Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The program enables students to spend the study researching at another participating university. Other opportunities include the Undergraduate Research Opportunities program, getting a job as a paid research assistant, independent study, and the senior thesis project.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #23
30 Year Average Net ROI: $901,400
University of Washington: Seattle, Washington
Undergraduate Degree in Physics
The physics research at the University of Washington spans nearly every major field of physics from particle theory to precision measurement. Undergraduates will have a chance to participate in this research and also the chance to take a summer through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program to engage in research at another participating university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #31
30 Year Average Net ROI: $904,300
University of Texas Austin: Austin, Texas
UT Physics
The University of Texas Austin is one of the best public scientific research universities in the United States. One of the cornerstones of the physics program at UT Austin is providing every undergraduate the chance to be a part of the cutting-edge intellectual research community at the school. UT Austin is also a part of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, which allows students to explore research opportunities among other participating universities.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #36
30 Year Average Net ROI: $931,100
University of Maryland College Park: College Park, Maryland
Undergraduate Degree in Physics
One of the top-ranked research institutions in the United States, UMCP offers a wide range of research opportunities for undergraduate physics majors. There are various ways for students to become involved in research, and the school encourages all undergraduate students to participate in the valuable research opportunities available.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #19
30 Year Average Net ROI: $938,800
University of California Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara, California
Physics Undergraduate Programs
Another top U.S. public school, UCSB has a thriving undergraduate research culture. All undergraduate physics majors are encouraged to participate in research as it is fundamental to growth in the physics field.
The primary vehicle driving undergraduate research at UCSB is the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities unit which encourages and facilitates independent research projects for undergraduate students. There are also several research facilities at the school where students can gain valuable research experience.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #12
30 Year Average Net ROI: $939,900
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Champaign, Illinois
Physics Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is one of the United States’ top public schools. In addition to its high Academic Ranking of World Universities ranking, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign was ranked as a top ten university in physics in the United States by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. The school features many opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research both at UIUC and other partner institutions.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #15
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.03 Million
Johns Hopkins University: Baltimore, Maryland
Physics Undergraduate Programs
While Johns Hopkins is most renowned for its medical school, it maintains a long history of high education standards across the sciences. Undergraduates will have access to various research fellowships and awards. JHU has always been a high research-focused university and is committed to enriching the education of undergraduate students by involving them in research from the beginning.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #15
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.07 Million
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Cornell University: Ithaca, New York
Physics Undergraduate Program
Research opportunities for undergraduate students at Cornell are numerous. One of the primary strategies for landing a job working on research as an undergraduate at Cornell is to develop relationships with professors. Not all positions at the school are openly advertised, but students that distinguish themselves and express an interest often find many opportunities in front of them to both earn money, and gain valuable experience in their field.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #10
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.12 Million
Columbia University: New York City, New York
Department of Physics
The physics department at Columbia University is small with only 20 undergraduate and 100 graduate students admitted per year, and 35 faculty. There is a heavy research focus at the school and undergraduate students receive much individual attention and mentorship, especially in their junior and senior years.
The student-to-faculty ratio for undergraduate juniors and seniors in the physics department at Columbia is an astonishing 3:2, which truly allows students and professors to maximize undergraduates’ time in those crucial years.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #21
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.175 Million
University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Physics & Astronomy Major
With a strong reputation for academic excellence, the University of Pennsylvania is one of the top schools in the United States. There have been an impressive number of eight Nobel laureates associated with UPenn within the last ten years. Though not all of those prizes were in physics, it is an example of the University’s commitment to groundbreaking research in the sciences.
Undergraduate students will be able to learn under some of the greatest minds in physics. The National Science Foundation sponsors the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at UPenn. It provides students with the opportunity to begin engaging in important research while in the early years of their academic careers.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #22
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.22 Million
University of California Berkeley: Berkeley, California
Undergraduate Major Program in Physics
U.C. Berkeley boasts one of the highest net returns on investments among public schools and one of the highest in the United States. The school is also highly ranked by the Academic Ranking of World Universities for its physics program. Undergraduate students can develop their research skills if they so desire, through U.C. Berkeley, Atomic, Nanoscale, and Quantum Characterization Facility, which is specifically devoted to allowing undergraduate and graduate students to gain experience in research and develop their skills through various training opportunities.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #3
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.18 Million
Princeton University: Princeton, New Jersey
Physics Undergraduate Program
Princeton offers many opportunities to undergraduate physics students seeking research experience. Every student gains some research experience as each does a senior thesis project which begins training them to take the initiative early in their career. There are also numerous opportunities for students to engage in research through internships at Princeton or any number of the worldwide network of labs and research centers with which Princeton has connections.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #5
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.23 Million
Harvard University: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Physics Undergraduate Studies
Harvard is well known for its prestigious Law and Medical programs, but it is also ranked #1 worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities for its physics programs. Harvard has two physics research centers that support undergraduate-level student research in the field: Harvard Quantum Optics Center and the Center for Ultracold Atoms. These opportunities allow students to dive into physics research early in their academic careers.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #1
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.33 Million
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Stanford University: Stanford, California
Physics Undergraduate Program
The Stanford undergraduate program in physics features a senior thesis program in which students pursue research in their specialty and an optional honors program where additional research experience can be acquired. Stanford also provides undergraduate students research opportunities on campus and abroad through the summer research program. Stanford University is one of the premier universities in the United States for studying the sciences. With the school’s heavy research focus, students will find many opportunities to be involved with cutting-edge research in the field while earning their undergraduate degree.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #6
30-Year Average Net ROI: $1.43 Million
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Degree in Physics
MIT is well known to be one of the foremost epicenters of scientific research in the world. Physics students can engage in research projects and develop their own research ideas through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Another opportunity for undergraduates that distinguish themselves is the MIT Summer Research Program, which seeks out high potential individuals and allows them to be involved in major research at the school.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #2
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.61 Million
California Institute of Technology: Pasadena, California
Physics Undergraduate Program
Cal Tech is a world-renowned university for its work in the sciences, engineering, and technology. The school is the home of the award-winning Cal Tech Undergraduate Research Journal, where students can gain first-hand experience with academic publishing by writing, editing, and evaluating works in their field. Cal Tech’s 30 years average net ROI is also among the highest in the United States. This is because Cal Tech’s strongest programs lead to jobs in some of the highest-earning fields, and Cal Tech graduates often achieve great heights in their specialties.
Academic Ranking of World Universities: #4
30 Year Average Net ROI: $1.99 Million
Conclusion
Earning a bachelor’s degree prepares future scientists for physics graduate programs and many exciting job opportunities. While researching the best undergraduate Physics bachelor’s degrees, consider this list of top-ranked bachelor of physics programs with the best return on investment.
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