Best colleges for Biological and Physical Sciences
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Biological and Physical Sciences by graduate earnings are University of Notre Dame ($75,418), Bard College ($39,296) and University of Oregon ($38,285), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): $75,418, 64 graduates a year
- Bard College (Annandale-On-Hudson, NY): $39,296, 100 graduates a year
- University of Oregon (Eugene, OR): $38,285, 65 graduates a year
- Portland State University (Portland, OR): $37,419, 97 graduates a year
- Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA): $36,709, 59 graduates a year
Compare 305 U.S. colleges offering Biological and Physical Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 42 states.
Biological and Physical Sciences programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,446 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 30.01 and the Natural Sciences Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Biological and Physical Sciences programs
The Biological and Physical Sciences program offers a comprehensive exploration of the natural sciences, focusing on both life sciences and physical sciences. This interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of the natural world through a scientific lens. It is ideal for those who aspire to engage in research, development, or technical roles in various scientific fields.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in science, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics in biology, chemistry, and the application of scientific principles, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to analyze and address scientific challenges.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,418 | 64 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 2 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,296 | 100 | 68% | $24,278 | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,285 | 65 | 72% | — | $22,917 |
| 4 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,419 | 97 | 53% | — | $27,500 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,709 | 59 | 63% | — | $26,975 |
| 6 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,362 | 74 | 57% | — | $10,348 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,639 | 136 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,703 | 57 | 71% | $23,510 | $25,990 |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,380 | 165 | 85% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,125 | 49 | 54% | — | $17,750 |
| 11 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,958 | 32 | 82% | $38,931 | $24,250 |
| 12 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,555 | 70 | 41% | — | $22,346 |
| 13 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,508 | 96 | 90% | — | $20,600 |
| 14 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,311 | 20 | 56% | — | $26,419 |
| 15 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree Degree completion | $69,480 | 83 | — | — | $18,500 |
| 16 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,288 | 12 | 60% | — | $19,500 |
| 17 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,525 | 10 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,561 | 9 | 46% | — | $25,472 |
| 19 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,952 | 15 | 33% | — | $25,162 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $35,639 | 2 | 34% | — | $26,000 |
| 21 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Greensburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,380 | 1 | 40% | — | $26,000 |
| 22 | New College of Florida Sarasota, FL Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,858 | 10 | 67% | — | $19,500 |
| 23 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,699 | 19 | 30% | — | $17,354 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,080 | 11 | 52% | — | — |
| 25 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,446 | 3 | 53% | $18,059 | $26,250 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown, VA Public · Associate degree | $37,850 | 144 | 45% | — | $8,400 |
| 2 | College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public · Associate degree | $37,724 | 155 | 37% | — | $7,833 |
| 3 | Riverside City College Riverside, CA Public · Associate degree | $33,201 | 520 | 37% | — | $8,712 |
| 4 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA Public · Associate degree | $31,960 | 357 | 30% | — | $9,036 |
| 5 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree | $30,605 | 152 | 32% | — | $9,787 |
| 6 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · Associate degree | $29,678 | 118 | 36% | — | $6,196 |
| 7 | American River College Sacramento, CA Public · Associate degree | $29,022 | 298 | 37% | — | $14,400 |
| 8 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL Public · Associate degree | $28,614 | 167 | 37% | — | $7,500 |
| 9 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA Public · Associate degree | $27,786 | 70 | 40% | — | $7,334 |
| 10 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL Public · Associate degree | $27,320 | 89 | 44% | — | $8,315 |
| 11 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · Associate degree | $27,081 | 413 | 48% | — | $8,250 |
| 12 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA Public · Associate degree | $26,780 | 422 | 62% | — | $9,205 |
| 13 | Parkland College Champaign, IL Public · Associate degree | $26,547 | 115 | 32% | — | $8,628 |
| 14 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CA Public · Associate degree | $26,228 | 701 | 36% | — | $6,625 |
| 15 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $26,130 | 135 | 31% | — | $5,583 |
| 16 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton, VA Public · Associate degree | $25,468 | 84 | 34% | — | $10,400 |
| 17 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA Public · Associate degree | $25,221 | 180 | 31% | — | $8,945 |
| 18 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $33,115 | 139 | 27% | — | $8,250 |
| 19 | Shasta College Redding, CA Public · Associate degree | $31,415 | 217 | 23% | — | $12,324 |
| 20 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL Public · Associate degree | $30,509 | 147 | 21% | — | $6,500 |
| 21 | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $30,203 | 133 | 18% | — | $8,965 |
| 22 | Triton College River Grove, IL Public · Associate degree | $29,069 | 179 | 29% | — | $10,984 |
| 23 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $27,451 | 167 | 26% | — | $8,750 |
| 24 | City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $26,939 | 30 | 21% | — | $5,500 |
| 25 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA Public · Associate degree Small program | $25,393 | 7 | 31% | — | $8,042 |
Specializations within Biological and Physical Sciences
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 30.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 42 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9121, Natural Sciences Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Biological and Physical Sciences program can pursue various careers in research, development, and technical support roles. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 8,500 annual openings. A typical entry-level requirement is a Bachelor's degree, with a median wage of $161,180.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Biological and Physical Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 30.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 30.01 (Biological and Physical Sciences) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managersprimary |
| 25-1199 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Biological and Physical Sciences programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Biological and Physical Sciences program?+
The program focuses on the study of natural phenomena, encompassing both life sciences and physical sciences.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 8,500 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in this field.
How much do Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn?+
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,446, College Scorecard (2019); the Natural Sciences Managers occupation pays about $180,250 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Biological and Physical Sciences?+
Biological and Physical Sciences maps to CIP 30.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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