What are some top colleges for physics majors with affordable tuition?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying colleges with strong physics programs that also offer affordable tuition. Participants share their personal experiences, preferences, and suggestions regarding various institutions across the United States, focusing on factors such as financial aid, location, and specific areas of physics study.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for colleges with good physics programs that are also affordable, expressing concern about financial constraints.
  • Another participant, a high school junior, specifies an interest in particle physics and quantum aspects, asking for suggestions outside of Ivy League schools and top-tier institutions like MIT and Caltech.
  • A suggestion is made to consider Washington University in St. Louis, though it is noted that it may be expensive.
  • Concerns about financial aid and scholarships are raised, indicating that these factors will influence college decisions.
  • A participant currently attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shares positive feedback about the physics program and faculty.
  • Discussion includes the idea that prestigious schools like Harvard and MIT, despite high costs, may offer substantial financial aid, potentially making them more accessible for talented students.
  • A participant mentions a friend studying physics at the University of Missouri-Rolla, highlighting positive experiences and available scholarships.
  • UCSB is recommended as a top non-Ivy physics program, with mentions of specific research opportunities and competitive admission for specialized programs.
  • Cal Poly is suggested for its strengths in condensed matter physics and nanotechnology, with a notable faculty member's research mentioned.
  • UC Berkeley is also recommended for its physics program, though some participants argue UCSB has a stronger program overall.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on the best colleges for physics, with no consensus on a single institution. There are competing views on the relative strengths of UCSB and UC Berkeley, as well as differing perspectives on the affordability and value of prestigious institutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants' recommendations are influenced by personal experiences and perceptions of financial aid availability, which may vary widely. The discussion reflects a range of opinions on the importance of specific physics subfields and the overall reputation of various institutions.

mgiddy911
Messages
331
Reaction score
0
I want to major in physics in college, I am having trouble with my search for colleges with good physics programs. Could you guys post some schools you think I should look into... by the way i am also looking for colleges that might be not very expensive money will be an issue in my choice
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sorry I didn't post more about what kinds of thigns I want to study. Right now I am a junior in high school, at one of the best schools ins the state, Saint Louis University Highschool, I am curious as to what choices for college anyone suggests. I want to study physics throughout college, more particularly particle physics and quantum aspects of physics. money and locations and phys/science dept's are going to be the deciding factors mostlikely in where i end up going, any suggestions? I just want some views on what schools around the US have good departments for physics besides the Ivy league schools and schools liek MIT and Cal Tech
 
Since you live in St Louis, consider Wash U, it may be expensive but I think it is worth the money. You will not specialize until graduae school so look for a place that gives the best foundations.
 
thanks for the info, i am currently looking at wash U, yet money would be the problem, it kidna depends on financial aids and schalorships and that so i owuldn't be able to decide just yet, some other school's I have looked at are mizzou, U-illinois-Urbana Champaign, university of Tulsa ( they had an interesting cybercorps prgram)
 
I currently attend U of I at Urbana-Champaign, and i think it is a really good school for physics. The profs here are great, and its a very good place to learn physics.

- harsh
 
one thing about expensive schools like MIT and Harvard and so on. They are expoensive but they arte also rich so can afford more finacial aid than poorer schools. i went to harvard as a poor kid and made out ok.

if you can cut the mustard you can alwys find someone to pay for you. talent is always at a premium.
 
I have a friend from St. Louis who is currently a physics major at U of MO- Rolla. She's had nothing but good things to say about it and by the sounds of it there's some good scholarship $ around if you look for it.
 
UCSB.

Probably the best non-Ivy physics program in the country(i'm including caltech and MIT when i say Ivy). Top ten physics program. Kavlier Institute for Theoretical Physics. College of Creative Studies Physics Major (If you're real good, only 14 some people per year get into that out of 300 physics majors applicants).

I would of course recommend CalPoly as well, especially if you're into condensed matter physics, or nanotechnology. One of our professors, MITand Princeton grad, is working on self guided assembly of nanostructures. Really cool stuff.
 
You might want to consider UC Berkley...it's great for Physics...Cal poly is good too for undergraduate study...
 
  • #10
UCSB has a better program than berkely, the best of all the University of California campus's.

That said, all the UC campus's have good programs, its just that UCSB has more ongoing research than the others. On the other hand Berkely is THE place for chemistry. There is even an element named after the campus. That big. But for physics, its UCSB (Santa Barbara).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
8K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K