Best Physics Programs in Minnesota (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 5 Physics programs in Minnesota by the median earnings of Physics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Bethel University leads the list with median earnings of $85,657 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figures range from $85,657 to $39,009, with a median of $73,540. For 2 of the 5 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 1 public institution and 4 private nonprofits. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $16,778, and also holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank among the group: it ranks 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Bethel University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 88% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethel University · Saint Paul, MN | $85,657 | $28,556 | $22,218 | 87.8% |
| Bethel University ranks 1st on this list, reporting $85,657 in median earnings for its Physics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $80,025 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| A public university in Minneapolis, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities posts an average net price of $16,778 alongside median earnings of $80,025 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Gustavus Adolphus College · Saint Peter, MN | $73,540 | $22,900 | $12,015 | 61.0% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College admits 61% of applicants and its Physics graduates four years after completing report median earnings of $73,540. | |||||
| 4 | Carleton College · Northfield, MN | $42,774 | $25,407 | $7,881 | 20.4% |
| With an admission rate of 20%, Carleton College is the most selective school on the page, and its Physics graduates four years after completing earn a median of $42,774. | |||||
| 5 | St Olaf College · Northfield, MN | $39,009 | $23,874 | $10,404 | 48.3% |
| St Olaf College reports median earnings of $39,009 for its Physics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $10,404 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Physics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Minnesota appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 5 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from Bethel University to the bottom of the list spans $46,648, with a gap of $5,632 separating Bethel University from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.