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# Best Physics Programs in Minnesota (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) 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

5 schools in list order

| 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](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) posts an [average net price of $16,778](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/cost/) 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](/school/gustavus-adolphus-college/majors/) [admits 61% of applicants](/school/gustavus-adolphus-college/admissions/) 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%](/school/carleton-college/admissions/), [Carleton College](/school/carleton-college/majors/) 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](/school/st-olaf-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $39,009](/school/st-olaf-college/outcomes/) 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.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Physics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-physics-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in Minnesota](/rankings/best-colleges-in-minnesota/)
-   [Best Physics Programs in California](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-california/)
-   [Best Physics Programs in Florida](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-florida/)
-   [Best Physics Programs in Pennsylvania](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-pennsylvania/)
-   [Top Physics Programs in New York by Earnings](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-new-york/)
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in Minnesota