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:
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Related Engineering Physics Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Engineering Physics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Engineering Physics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Physics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Physics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Physics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Physics Master’s Degree Schools
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
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).