This snapshot pulls from CollegeWhale’s scholarship database and planning tools to show how many scholarships are available for Physics majors, the total dollars listed, and how early-career pay compares to typical college costs.
We currently list 17 active scholarships tied to Physics programs, sourced from professional groups, nonprofits, and private sponsors. New awards are added regularly.
The scholarships currently listed total approximately $171,000 in advertised award value. Many programs offer renewable or variable awards, so available funding may be higher over time.
Early-career median pay for Physics graduates is about $100,000 per year. We estimate a typical 4-year net college cost around $108,584.
That means first-year earnings are roughly 92% of total college cost, with an estimated payback period of 1.1 years (before taxes and living expenses).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628.
According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ makes it easy to discover the best Physics scholarships — fast. Filter by award amount, deadline month, and estimated time to apply, then instantly download your personalized list. No sign-ups, no personal info, no spam — just real, verified scholarships.
The Hollings Scholarship provides significant financial support and professional development opportunities for undergraduate students interested in the oceanic, atmospheric, environmental, and related sciences, engineering, technology, and education fields. The program aims to expand undergraduate training in areas relevant to the
Award: $9,500 Deadline: January Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)Hosted by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences (NAS), this scholarship supports undergraduate students who are majoring in a natural science—such as chemistry, physics, biology or geology—at an accredited four-year college or university in Nebraska. The award is intended for sophomores
Award: $3,000 Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program Award Amount: Annual stipend of $90,000. Additional allowances for health...
Award: $90,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)Name: Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) Academic Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The Aysen Tunca Memorial Scholarship...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: SPS and AAPT Mary Beth Monroe Memorial Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The SPS and AAPT Mary...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: AWIS Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The AWIS Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award is...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: Peggy Dixon Two-Year Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The Peggy Dixon Two-Year Scholarship is...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: SPS Future Teacher Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The SPS Future Teacher Scholarship is...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: Herbert Levy Memorial Scholarship Award Amount: One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The Herbert Levy Memorial Scholarship...
Award: $2,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)Name: Marian H. Rose Research Scholarship Award Amount: One $15,000 scholarship awarded annually. Overview: The Marian H. Rose Research...
Award: $15,000 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)Name: SPS - Google Scholarships Award Amount: Up to five $10,000 scholarships awarded annually. Overview: The SPS - Google Scholarships aim to...
Award: $10,000 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)This comprehensive collection of Physics scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Physics scholarship opportunities.
Physics majors explore the fundamental laws that govern nature — from quantum mechanics and relativity to thermodynamics and cosmology. Because physics is foundational to engineering, technology, medicine, and national research infrastructure, many universities, federal agencies, and scientific organizations offer competitive scholarships and fellowships to support students pursuing physics degrees.
These awards can reduce tuition costs, fund laboratory research, support conference travel, and provide multi-year graduate stipends. Students interested in theoretical physics, astrophysics, condensed matter, computational physics, materials science, or physics education can all find targeted funding opportunities.
CollegeWhale Tip: Most top-tier physics scholarships prioritize research potential. Even as an undergraduate, aim to join a lab early, present at a conference, or co-author a paper — it dramatically strengthens competitive applications.
Several highly respected national programs support physics students at different academic levels.
| Scholarship | Level | Award Amount | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Goldwater Scholarship | Undergraduate (Sophomore/Junior) | Up to $7,500/year | Future research scientists (PhD-bound) |
| Society of Physics Students (SPS) Scholarship | Undergraduate | $2,000–$5,000 | Academic excellence + SPS involvement |
| NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) | Graduate (MS/PhD) | Full stipend + tuition | Research-focused graduate study |
| NDSEG Fellowship | PhD | Full tuition + stipend | Defense-related STEM research |
These programs are highly competitive but can significantly reduce or eliminate graduate school costs.
Because physics supports national priorities in aerospace, defense, energy, and research, federal agencies offer major funding opportunities.
Government-backed scholarships often include research placements, internships, or laboratory partnerships in addition to funding.
Physics remains one of the least diverse STEM fields, and many organizations fund programs designed to expand representation.
Many of these programs also provide mentorship networks and conference access.
Students specializing in space science can pursue targeted funding opportunities:
These awards are ideal for students pursuing careers in cosmology, observational astronomy, or planetary science.
Most research universities offer internal scholarships for physics majors based on:
Graduate students in physics often receive full funding packages that include tuition remission and stipends through departmental fellowships or research assistantships.
CollegeWhale Tip: Many departmental scholarships are nomination-based. Building strong relationships with research advisors is often just as important as maintaining a high GPA.
Data & content oversight by Lauren Nichols
Co-Founder of CollegeWhale, specializing in scholarship data systems and financial aid research.