Best Physics Schools

How are the Top Physics Programs Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

Explore the Best Physics Programs with Appily!

Create a Appily account to start saving schools to your personal list. Wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? You can also see your chances of acceptance and get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.

Georgetown University

Georgetown University, founded in 1789, is the oldest Catholic university in the US. Rated as having a “most selective” admissions process, this school ranks #20 in National Universities according to U.S. News & World Report. International Relations...

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This really depends on the individual and what kind of learning you feel is most valuable.
Academically speaking, obviously if you choose to slack off and focus on socializing, you might not do so hot even if your classes are awesome. For the most...

” – CZ from VA
Colby College

Founded in 1813, Colby College is one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, serving only undergraduates. Colby’s academic programs, including 45 majors and 35 minors, are anchored to the world’s most complex challenges. Colby’s campus...

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Colby College provides a safe and welcoming environment to prospective and new students as well as an experience that is unique, challenging, and gratifying. The largest classes at Colby are probably the introductory science courses, which take place...

” – Angela from Bronx, NY
Tufts University

Tufts University is a 4-year private institution with three campuses in the Boston area. Tufts is home to 12 colleges and schools conferring bachelor’s degrees in over 90 academic majors and minors. The school is known for their popular a capella...

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Tufts is often called a baby-ivy meaning that the quality of education here is at par with or better than what students receive at Ivy League schools. The only difference is that it isn't quite as famous as schools like Harvard or Yale. Classes are...

” – Caitlyn from Plainville, MA
University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is a high-research institution located in Los Angeles, California, where it’s been educating students since 1880. The university is comprised of two campuses, the main University Park and the Health Sciences...

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University of Southern California is among the top universities in the country, and keeps getting better. The professors at the university are all at the top of their fields, and the extensive alumni list proves that the connections that you make...

” – Thomas from Houston, TX
Barnard College

Founded in response to neighboring Columbia University’s all-male admission policy, Barnard College is one of the oldest women’s colleges in the United States and a member of the Seven Sisters colleges. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Barnard...

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Barnard college is one of the most unique college experiences that exist- partly because of it's location in NYC, partly because of the affiliation with Columbia, and partly because of its existence as a women's college. Being a part of Columbia is...

” – Cassie
University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is one of the nation’s top religious schools and holds mass multiple times a day. U.S. News & World Report rates the school as #18 in National...

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In and out of the classroom, you are guaranteed to learn...A LOT. From going to conferences and listening to lectures by distinguished professors at many different universities to the actual learning in the classroom (and the fabulous & intelligent...

” – Lindsay from Downers Grove, IL
Middlebury College

Founded in 1800 as a ministry training school, Middlebury College is a 4-year liberal arts college in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and the first institution of higher learning established in the state. Middlebury offers bachelor’s degrees in over 45...

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The price of tuition is one of the most expensive in the country. Furthermore, Middlebury does not offer merit-based scholarships.

” – Ryan
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Pitzer College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southern California and a member of the Claremont Colleges. Pitzer offers bachelor’s degrees in over 40 academic majors including the first Secular Studies program in the nation. To provide a...

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Pitzer College as well as the entire Claremont Colleges offers many opportunities and resources including the Claremont Consortium, the Keck Joint Science Center, Student Health Services and others. Students also have the opportunity to create their...

” – Diamond from Los Angeles, CA
Bates College

Founded in 1855 by a group of abolitionists, Bates College is a liberal arts college in southern Maine with a focus on social justice and egalitarianism. Bates confers bachelor’s degrees in 35 academic majors and students have the option to pursue...

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What captured me was the modest intelligence of the students. Everyone here not only passionately wants to be here, but every student sincerely deserves to be here. The student body, friendly and easy-going, is a part of the aura of subdued learning...

” – Kiera from Lewiston, ME
Wesleyan University

Founded in 1831 by a group of local citizens and Methodist leaders, Wesleyan University is a liberal arts institution in central Connecticut. Wesleyan confers bachelor’s degrees in 45 academic majors. For students interested in the fine and...

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Around campus, there is a general environment of smart, open-minded individuals who are, by a large margin, happy to be at Wesleyan. The free exchange of ideas is valued greatly by students and professors alike. The professors are very engaging and...

” – Brendan from Middletown, CT
Davidson College

Founded by the Presbyterian church, Davidson College is a 4-year private liberal arts college in southern North Carolina. Davidson confers bachelor’s degrees in 29 academic majors and 40 minors. Davidson also features an Honor Code forbidding...

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Davidson is known for its strenuous academic curriculum, and it lives up to that reputation. There aren't any joke classes, but every class that I have had has been great. The professors actually do the teaching while they don't at large...

” – Andrew from Charlotte, NC
Carleton College

With campus overlooking the Cannon River, Carleton College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southeast Minnesota. Carleton offers bachelor’s degrees in 33 academic majors with a focus on developing skills that apply to all walks of life. For...

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Carleton offers a comprehensive liberal arts education. Because it is based on a trimester schedule, students only take three courses per ten-week term. This allows them to focus more on the classes in which they are enrolled without becoming...

” – Sara from Buda, TX
Hamilton College

Named for Alexander Hamilton and founded in 1812, Hamilton College is a 4-year liberal arts college in central New York State. Hamilton confers undergraduate degrees in 43 academic concentrations and features an open curriculum policy. To provide...

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I have been extremely pleased with my academic experience at Hamilton. My professors have challenged me intellectually and really pushed me to new levels, while remaining friendly, professional, and passionate about their subject. They have...

” – from MA
Haverford College

Haverford College is a 4-year liberal arts college in the Philadelphia metro area. Founded in 1833 as a Quaker school, Haverford now grants bachelor’s degrees in 29 academic majors and all degrees culminate in a senior thesis research project. With a...

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Haverford is a fantastic academic environment. In my experience, professors really care about their subject and their students. Overall, they are incredibly approachable and always interested in helping you learn and eager to discuss issues that are...

” – female from MN
Wellesley College

Founded in 1870, Wellesley College is a 4-year liberal arts college for women in eastern Massachusetts as well as a member of the Seven Sisters Colleges and Three-College Alliance. Wellesley confers undergraduate degrees in over 50 departmental and...

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Wellesley is an excellent liberal arts school because, in a nutshell, they teach you how to figure the world out for yourself. They have excellence in everything: faculty, location, students, campus, dining, residential staff, dorms, comprehensive...

” – Christine from Salt Lake City, UT
Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University is a liberal arts university located in Lexington, VA, along the Shenandoah River and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. W&L's motto is "Non Incautus Futuri," which means "not unmindful...

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A small campus with a great community vibe, filled with overachieving students that graduate with starry eyes and top internships.

” – Maryland
Emory University

Emory University is a liberal arts institution located in Atlanta, Georgia, with a second campus in Oxford. The 600-acre campus in the Druid Hills neighborhood is home to four undergraduate and seven graduate colleges, as well as over a dozen...

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At Emory university every class is a challenge that you can handle if you apply yourself properly. You can not assume that whatever you did in high school will work here as well, but if you are accepted you should feel confident that you can handle...

” – Sophia from PA
Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University stands among the world's most renowned educational institutions, and we tap into our diverse community and world-leading digital technologies across business, engineering, the sciences, the humanities and the arts to chart...

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The amount of things you learn throughout your classes is amazing to me. Just this past 2 weeks, I've learned so many things about programming that it has made a noticeable change in how I approach problems.

” – Mathew from Jensen Beach, FL
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an institution in the UNC system and the first public university to confer degrees. A member of the Association of American Universities, UNC Chapel Hill is considered a Public Ivy and houses a...

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Although some of the classes are large, students have the opportunity for some one on one time with professors and teaching assistants through office hours and smaller versions of lectures called recitations. So no matter the class size, you are...

” – Alexia from Apex, NC
University of Virginia-Main Campus

Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia is a public institution in Charlottesville. UVA encompasses 12 colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees in over 70 fields of study. For artistically-inclined students, UVA...

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The great thing about UVA is that it is a public research university - meaning its resources attract the big names in most fields of study. This is great for you, the student, because you get to learn under such academics as Rita Dove and Larry...

” – Jessica from Chester, VA