About The Department of Physics

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The Department of Physics at the ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ is internationally renowned for outstanding teaching, research and service. Home to award-winning research labs, educators and Nobel Laureates, the CU Department of Physics is at the forefront of the physics discipline, with an accomplished faculty devoted to undergraduate and graduate research and education.

Rich in history, strong in spirit and dedicated to excellence, we provide a comprehensive theoretical and hands-on educational experience to our Undergraduate, Graduate and Post-Doctoral students.

Physics by the Numbers

Honors and Awards

ÌýÌý 4 Nobel Prizes since 2001

ÌýÌý 4 MacArthur Genius FellowsÌý

ÌýÌý 11 members of the National Academy of Sciences

Student enrollment and degrees

ÌýÌý 329ÌýPhD students

ÌýÌý 502Ìýphysics and engineering physics majors

ÌýÌý 100 undergraduate degrees awarded annuallyÌý

US News & World Report Graduate School Rankings (2023)

ÌýÌý #1 best public university in atomic, molecular, and optical phyics

ÌýÌý#4Ìýbest public university in quantum physics

ÌýÌý#4Ìýbest public university in condensed matter physics

Scholarship and fellowships

ÌýÌýOver $66,000 in named graduate fellowship funding awarded each year

ÌýÌýOver $187,000 in scholarships awarded in 2024-2025

ÌýÌý58ÌýQuantum Fellows in 2024-2025

Faculty and research activity

ÌýÌý59Ìýtenured and tenure-track faculty

ÌýÌý $84Ìýmillion in research expenditures in 2024

National labs and institutes

ÌýÌý our faculty hold joint appointments with 6 national labs and institutes including JILA, NIST, NREL, LASP, RASEI, and BioFrontiers