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Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

216 Colleges
$42,323 Avg Salary
$23,308 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Physical Sciences School for You

Physical Sciences is the #19 most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 216 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Physical Sciences program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Colleges.

Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - Madison to be the most popular school for physical sciences students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, physical sciences graduates from UW - Madison take out $22,860 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Out of the 216 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UIUC take out is $21,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $566.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Out of the 216 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at U-M accumulate an average of around $19,876 in student debt.

Full Physical Sciences at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

#4

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for physical sciences students. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

On average, physical sciences graduates from UChicago take out $19,972 in student loans while working on their degree.

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The excellent programs at Ohio State University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best physical sciences schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at Ohio State accumulate an average of around $25,750 in student debt.

Full Physical Sciences at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

With a ranking of #6, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Purdue take out is $20,262. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Purdue University - Main Campus

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. Michigan State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Michigan State take out is $26,904. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $468, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Michigan State University

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at OHIO Athens take out is $21,419.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Ohio University - Athens Campus

With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bloomington.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at IU Bloomington accumulate an average of around $22,249 in student debt.

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#10

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

With a ranking of #10, Northwestern University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Northwestern take out is $17,417.

Full Physical Sciences at Northwestern University Report

#11

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

With a ranking of #11, Wayne State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Wayne State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Detroit.

On average, physical sciences graduates from Wayne State take out $27,345 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Physical Sciences at Wayne State University Report

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #12 on the list. UC is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UC take out is $24,000.

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University of Akron Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Physical Sciences majors at University of Akron Main Campus take out an average of $23,675 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Physical Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus Report

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a very large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

Physical Sciences majors at UIC take out an average of $20,463 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Kent State University at Kent did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #15 on the list. Kent State is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Kent.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Kent State take out is $25,163.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Kent State University at Kent

#16

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from Notre Dame carry an average student debt load of $19,500.

Full Physical Sciences at University of Notre Dame Report

Case Western Reserve University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Cleveland.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at Case Western accumulate an average of around $25,055 in student debt.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Case Western Reserve University

With a ranking of #18, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Miami University - Oxford take out is $19,850.

Full Physical Sciences at Miami University - Oxford Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at IUPUI take out is $21,596.

Full Physical Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Report

#19

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI

With a ranking of #19, Western Michigan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. WMU is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at WMU take out is $27,033.

Full Physical Sciences at Western Michigan University Report

Northern Illinois University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. NIU is a large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from NIU carry an average student debt load of $20,500.

Full Physical Sciences at Northern Illinois University Report

Illinois State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Illinois State University

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from UW - Eau Claire carry an average student debt load of $21,375.

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UWM accumulate an average of around $27,875 in student debt.

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Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #25 on the list. BGSU is a large public school located in the fringe town of Bowling Green.

Physical Sciences majors at BGSU take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Physical Sciences at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Report

#27

Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, MI
#28

Ball State University

Muncie, IN
#31

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Physical Sciences students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
33 Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI
34 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
35 Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN
36 Lewis University Romeoville, IL
37 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
37 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
39 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
40 Butler University Indianapolis, IN
41 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
42 Hope College Holland, MI
43 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI
43 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
43 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH

Best Physical Sciences Colleges by State

Explore the best physical sciences schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Indiana 951
Michigan 1,288
Ohio 1,581
Illinois 1,686
Wisconsin 873

Physical Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 21,239
Physics 13,674
Geological & Earth Sciences 7,821
General Physical Sciences 3,823
Astronomy & Astrophysics 1,375
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 1,140
Materials Sciences 658
Other Physical Science 538
Physics and Astronomy 38

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences 254,454
Engineering 198,468
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 177,778
Engineering Technologies 85,188
Mathematics & Statistics 52,396

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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