Find Affordable College Courses

What Do You Want to Study?

2026 Best Engineering Physics Doctoral Degree Schools

2026 Best Engineering Physics Doctoral Degree Schools

Looking for the best Engineering Physics doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 142 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.

So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.

Top 25 Engineering Physics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States

Explore the leading schools below:

#1

Rice University

Houston, TX

Our analysis found Rice University to be the best Engineering Physics school in the United States. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Rice University Engineering Physics students take on a median of $11,904 in debt. Read the full report on Rice University

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the top choices in the United States. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Harvard University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. The median Engineering Physics program debt is $16,616. More on Harvard University

#3

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

You'll be in good company at Northwestern University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read the full report on Northwestern University

#5

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

You'll be in good company at Cornell University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete their Engineering Physics program here. More on Cornell University

Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Engineering Physics students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $44,074 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach profile

University Of California San Diego landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. The median Engineering Physics program debt is $17,101. Read more about University Of California San Diego

University Of Central Arkansas landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Central Arkansas

Xavier University placed #9 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Get the full Xavier University report

Ouachita Baptist University placed #10 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Read more about Ouachita Baptist University

California Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about California Institute Of Technology

Oglethorpe University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Oglethorpe University report

Spring Arbor University placed #13 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Spring Arbor University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Read more about Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Fordham University placed #15 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Read more about Fordham University

Providence College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read more about Providence College

Oakland University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. More on Oakland University

Stevens Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #18 position. More on Stevens Institute Of Technology

Oklahoma Christian University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Oklahoma Christian University

Westmont College placed #20 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Read more about Westmont College

Colorado School Of Mines came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report

Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. Read more about Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology

University Of California Berkeley placed #23 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #24 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile

Case Western Reserve University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Case Western Reserve University

Rest of the Top 50 Best Engineering Physics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:

Otterbein University placed #26 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Get the full Otterbein University report

Santa Clara University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Santa Clara University

Arkansas Tech University did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Arkansas Tech University profile

Loyola Marymount University did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Loyola Marymount University report

Bradley University did well this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Bradley University profile

Washington University In St Louis did well this year, earning the #31 position. More on Washington University In St Louis

Kansas Wesleyan University placed #32 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. More on Kansas Wesleyan University

Carnegie Mellon University placed #33 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report

University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. Read more about University Of New Hampshire Main Campus

Eckerd College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full Eckerd College profile

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

Pacific University did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Pacific University

Austin Peay State University did well this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Austin Peay State University profile

Southern Connecticut State University landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southern Connecticut State University

New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile

University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Platteville

Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #42 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management

Siena College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. See the full Siena College profile

Morehouse College placed #44 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. More on Morehouse College

Hamline University did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Hamline University report

University Of The Pacific ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. Read the full report on University Of The Pacific

Drew University placed #47 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. More on Drew University

Mcmurry University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Mcmurry University report

University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering Physics schools. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Boston

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #50 among Engineering Physics schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Illinois At Chicago report

See rankings for other degree levels:

Ranking Methodology & Notes

These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 142 ranked schools only.

References

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.