Best colleges for Physical Sciences in California
Ranked by graduates a year
American River College, El Camino Community College District and Long Beach City College award the most Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in California: 105, 92 and 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 California colleges offer Physical Sciences and award 397 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Physical Sciences program, also known as Physical Sciences, General, focuses on the study of non-living systems within the realm of natural science. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the principles that…
18 institutions offering Physical Sciences in California
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American River College Sacramento Public | — | 105 | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | — | 92 | 42% | — | — |
| 3 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | — | 54 | 30% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | — | 51 | 75% | — | — |
| 5 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga Public | — | 32 | 36% | — | — |
| 6 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey Public Graduate only | — | 14 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Clovis Community College Fresno Public | — | 14 | 45% | — | — |
| 8 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | — | 10 | 57% | — | — |
| 9 | Taft College Taft Public | — | 5 | 28% | — | — |
| 10 | Citrus College Glendora Public | — | 4 | 41% | — | — |
| 11 | Compton College Compton Public | — | 3 | 27% | — | — |
| 12 | Glendale Community College Glendale Public | — | 3 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public | — | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 14 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 57% | $18,716 | — |
| 15 | Feather River Community College District Quincy Public | — | 1 | 35% | — | — |
| 16 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | — | 1 | 76% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 18 | Madera Community College Madera Public | — | 1 | 35% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Physical Sciences degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American River College Sacramento Public | 105 | Not reported |
| 2 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | 92 | Not reported |
| 3 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 5 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 6 | Clovis Community College Fresno Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | Citrus College Glendora Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 9 | Glendale Community College Glendale Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 California colleges offering Physical Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Postgraduate School (Graduate only) | Monterey | Public | 14 |
| Taft College | Taft | Public | 5 |
| Compton College | Compton | Public | 3 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Feather River Community College District | Quincy | Public | 1 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | 1 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Madera Community College | Madera | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121).
Top skills
What Natural Sciences Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physical Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Physical Sciences degrees?+
American River College (105 graduates a year), El Camino Community College District (92 graduates a year) and Long Beach City College (54 graduates a year) award the most Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 California colleges offer Physical Sciences.
How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Natural Sciences Managers in California is $223,850 (median $210,230), across about 14,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Physical Sciences program?+
The Physical Sciences program, also known as Physical Sciences, General, focuses on the study of non-living systems within the realm of natural science. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the principles that…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 8,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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