Best Physics Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 5 Physics programs in Pennsylvania by median earnings of Physics graduates four years after completing. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads the list at $81,763, with a cohort of 50 graduates.
The median across the listed programs is $73,703, and the figures span from $81,763 to $45,198, a spread of $36,565. For 1 of the 5 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 4 of the 5 programs, with 1 private nonprofit program on the list. Villanova University ranks 263rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania posts the lowest average net price at $15,699, while Villanova University is the most selective, admitting 27% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $81,763 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports $81,763 in median earnings of Physics graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, alongside an admission rate of 61%. | |||||
| 2 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA | $74,813 | $21,331 | $15,957 | 90.8% |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania ranks 2nd on this page with median earnings of $74,813 four years after completing, and its graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 3 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · Bloomsburg, PA | $73,703 | $15,699 | $11,374 | 93.1% |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has an average net price of $15,699 and admits 93% of applicants. | |||||
| 4 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $64,837 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania posts median earnings of $64,837 for its Physics graduates four years after completing, and its Physics completers who borrowed carry a median federal debt of $26,000. | |||||
| 5 | Villanova University · Villanova, PA | $45,198 | $43,756 | $17,823 | 27.0% |
| Villanova University, a private nonprofit university, holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page at 263rd among nonprofit four-year institutions and has an average net price of $17,823 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 Pennsylvania appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 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 spread from top to bottom is $36,565, with Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reporting $81,763 and the fifth-ranked program at $45,198.
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