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# Best Physics Programs in the South (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Physics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-physics-programs/)

This page lists the 36 Physics programs in the South with a published earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Physics graduates four years after completing. [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $103,477 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs the figure ranges from $103,477 to $25,967, with a median of $73,152. For 8 of the 36 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 94% of the list, with 34 public and 2 private programs. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price among the group at $6,541.

The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

36 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
|  | [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill/majors/) reports [median earnings of $103,477](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 15%. |
| 2 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $96,138 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) left with a [median of $19,500](/school/george-mason-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school's Physics graduates earn $96,138 four years after completing. |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $92,826 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
|  | [Texas A&M University-College Station](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/majors/) [admits 57% of applicants](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/admissions/) and its Physics completers earn a median of $92,826 four years after graduating. |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $92,746 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
|  | With a [median of $92,746](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing, [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and carries an average net price of $24,953. |
| 5 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $90,900 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
|  | [University of Maryland-College Park](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/majors/) posts [median earnings of $90,900](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $2,962 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 6 | Towson University · Towson, MD | $90,457 | $17,413 | $6,962 | 82.0% |
|  | [Towson University](/school/towson-university/majors/) ranks 6th on this list, with a [median of $90,457](/school/towson-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and a cohort of 13 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $89,944 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
|  | [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $28,000](/school/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte/cost/) among Physics completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $89,944 four years after completing. |
| 8 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus · Magnolia, AR | $89,685 | $14,027 | $13,187 | 75.3% |
|  | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus shows median earnings of $89,685 for its Physics graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 75%. |
| 9 | West Virginia Wesleyan College · Buckhannon, WV | $89,430 | $18,083 | $12,611 | 93.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit university, West Virginia Wesleyan College reports median earnings of $89,430 for its Physics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $18,083. |
| 10 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $86,078 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
|  | [University of Houston](/school/university-of-houston/majors/) [ranks 13th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-houston/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Physics graduates earn a median of $86,078 four years after completing. |
| 11 | Georgia College & State University · Milledgeville, GA | $85,089 | $20,686 | $15,396 | 78.2% |
|  | [Georgia College & State University](/school/georgia-college-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $85,089](/school/georgia-college-state-university/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $15,396 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $82,431 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
|  | An [admission rate of 14%](/school/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus/admissions/) coincides with median earnings of $82,431 four years after completing for Physics graduates at [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/school/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus/majors/). |
| 13 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $82,399 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
|  | Reporting [median earnings of $82,399](/school/appalachian-state-university/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, [Appalachian State University](/school/appalachian-state-university/majors/) posts an average net price of $16,836. |
| 14 | Salisbury University · Salisbury, MD | $79,158 | $17,743 | $6,743 | 87.5% |
|  | At [Salisbury University](/school/salisbury-university/majors/), a [median federal debt of $20,325](/school/salisbury-university/cost/) among Physics completers who borrowed coincides with median earnings of $79,158 for Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 15 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $77,863 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 34%](/school/william-mary/admissions/), [William & Mary](/school/william-mary/majors/) reports median earnings of $77,863 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $77,737 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
|  | [Virginia Commonwealth University](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,512](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $77,737 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $74,738 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Austin](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/) [ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $74,738 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $74,475 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
|  | [University of Delaware](/school/university-of-delaware/majors/) reports [median earnings of $74,475](/school/university-of-delaware/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $26,572 among Physics completers who borrowed. |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $71,830 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Arlington](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington/majors/) [ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $71,830 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 20 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $69,192 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
|  | A public university in Murfreesboro, [Middle Tennessee State University](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $13,359](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/cost/) and a school-wide median federal debt of $20,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 21 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $68,967 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
|  | Ranking 21st on this list, [University of South Florida](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) reports [median earnings of $68,967](/school/university-of-south-florida/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 22 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $68,682 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
|  | The lowest average net price on the page, $6,541, belongs to [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/), where Physics graduates earned a [median of $68,682](/school/university-of-florida/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 23 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $65,217 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
|  | Admitting 89% of applicants, [Texas State University](/school/texas-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $65,217](/school/texas-state-university/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $64,413 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 53.2% |
|  | [University of North Florida](/school/university-of-north-florida/majors/) posts an [average net price of $6,647](/school/university-of-north-florida/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $64,413 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | Morehead State University · Morehead, KY | $62,865 | $9,793 | $7,150 | 77.2% |
|  | [Morehead State University](/school/morehead-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $62,865](/school/morehead-state-university/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,793. |
| 26 | Georgia State University · Atlanta, GA | $60,393 | $15,931 | $13,787 | 55.4% |
|  | [Georgia State University](/school/georgia-state-university/majors/) [ranks 44th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/georgia-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows a median federal debt of $21,859 among Physics completers who borrowed. |
| 27 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $57,318 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 65%](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/admissions/), [The University of Texas at Dallas](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/majors/) posts median earnings of $57,318 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $57,318 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
|  | [University of Arkansas](/school/university-of-arkansas/majors/) lists an [average net price of $18,209](/school/university-of-arkansas/cost/) and median earnings of $57,318 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |
| 29 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $52,289 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
|  | An [average net price of $8,174](/school/university-of-virginia-main-campus/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $52,289 for Physics graduates four years after completing at [University of Virginia-Main Campus](/school/university-of-virginia-main-campus/majors/). |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $51,590 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
|  | [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/) shows a [median federal debt of $22,710](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/cost/) among Physics completers who borrowed, combined with median earnings of $51,590 four years after completing. |
| 31 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $50,231 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
|  | [Florida State University](/school/florida-state-university/majors/) [ranks 65th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/florida-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $11,297. |
| 32 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $47,260 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
|  | [James Madison University](/school/james-madison-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $47,260](/school/james-madison-university/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $11,444 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 33 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $42,790 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
|  | [The University of Texas at San Antonio](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio/majors/) [ranks 34th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows a median federal debt of $25,000 among Physics completers who borrowed. |
| 34 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $38,289 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
|  | [University of Central Florida](/school/university-of-central-florida/majors/) posts [median earnings of $38,289](/school/university-of-central-florida/outcomes/) for its Physics graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 40%. |
| 35 | Bridgewater College · Bridgewater, VA | $29,685 | $17,800 | $13,283 | 91.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution, Bridgewater College reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Physics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $17,800. |
| 36 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $25,967 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
|  | [University of North Texas](/school/university-of-north-texas/majors/) lists an [average net price of $12,311](/school/university-of-north-texas/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $25,967 for its Physics graduates four years after completing. |

## 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 the South appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 8 of the 36 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 gap between first and second is $7,339, with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at $103,477 and George Mason University at $96,138.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Physics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-physics-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   [Top Physics Programs in the West by Earnings](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Physics Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Physics Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-physics-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in the South for Social Mobility
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in the South