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Los Angeles, CA · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at UCLA

UCLA graduates about 104 physics & astronomy majors a year, 1% of its graduating class. That puts it 36th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a standout program at 88 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $86,000 four years out, 1.12× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $57 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

88/100Standout#36 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year1041% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$86,0001.12× the same major nationally
Research in the field$57Ma year, NSF
Admit rate9%whole school

Around UCLA

This photo was taken by Dr. Tao's colleague at a physics lecture he attended on
Professor Tao with his Devoted StudentsPhoto: SATSAT2020 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Six YAL activists gathered with Gadsden Flag and beach ball at the University of
YAL activists at the University of California, Los AngelesPhoto: YAL Editors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Aerial view of UCLA campus and Westwood, California, facing southeast
UCLA campus and WestwoodPhoto: Rick Meyer, Los Angeles Times · CC BY 4.0 · source
UCLA Veterans Social 264
UCLA Veterans Social 264 (5715096209)Photo: SupportPDX from Portland, Oregon, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Physics & Astronomy Building, Center for Health Sciences, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Neuroscience Research Building, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Math Sciences, Factor Health Sciences Building, Life Sciences Building.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 89 · Dorm 20 · Arts 8 · Athletics 7 · Dining 6 · Library 4.

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. Bowdoin College 89
  2. Washington University in St. Louis 89
  3. Vanderbilt University 89
  4. Duke University 89
  5. Swarthmore College 88
  6. University of Washington 87
  7. University of Maryland, College Park 87
  8. Georgia Institute of Technology 87

Other strong majors at UCLA

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares UCLA with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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