Best institutions to study Physical Sciences
Compare 131 U.S. colleges offering Physical Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 32 states.
Physical Sciences programs report a median of $27,007 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 40.01 and the Natural Sciences Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Physical Sciences programs
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 govern physical phenomena, encompassing various branches of physical sciences. It is ideal for those who are curious about the natural world and seek to explore the fundamental concepts that underpin it.
Students in the Physical Sciences program will develop essential skills in science, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework typically covers topics such as biology, chemistry, and the principles of administration and management, preparing students for a range of scientific inquiries and applications.
Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,421 | 55 | 68% | — | $22,250 |
| 2 | CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY Public · Associate degree | $27,203 | 88 | 20% | — | $8,875 |
| 3 | Middlesex College Edison, NJ Public · Associate degree | $27,136 | 202 | 33% | — | $7,250 |
| 4 | Western Nevada College Carson City, NV Public · Associate degree | $27,007 | 130 | 41% | — | — |
| 5 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY Public · Associate degree | $26,948 | 41 | 25% | — | $9,000 |
| 6 | CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY Public · Associate degree | $23,219 | 14 | 24% | — | — |
| 7 | Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA Public · Associate degree | $20,219 | 187 | 9% | — | $12,000 |
| 8 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NY Public · Associate degree | $19,815 | 48 | 24% | — | $7,500 |
Offered across 32 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 12 | $41,421 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | $27,136 | Middlesex College |
| Nevadalimited | 2 | $27,007 | Western Nevada College |
| New York | 15 | $26,948 | CUNY Medgar Evers College |
| Virginialimited | 1 | $20,219 | Richard Bland College |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 18 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgia | 3 | — | — |
| Kansas | 3 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 4 | — | — |
| Michigan | 3 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexico | 7 | — | — |
| North Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohio | 3 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Utah | 3 | — | — |
| Washington | 28 | — | — |
| West Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9121, Natural Sciences Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physical Sciences program can expect a job outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 8,500 annual openings. The median wage for careers in this field is $161,180, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Physical Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 40.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 40.01 (Physical Sciences, General) maps to 2 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 |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in 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.
Concentrations within Physical Sciences
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Physical Sciences, GeneralCIP 40.0101
A program that focuses on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena as studied in any combination of physical science disciplines.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Physical Sciences program?+
The program focuses on the study of non-living systems within natural science.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, active listening, and more.
What is the job outlook for Physical Sciences graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7%.
What is the median wage for careers in Physical Sciences?+
The median wage for careers in this field is $161,180.
How much do Physical Sciences graduates earn?+
Physical Sciences graduates report median earnings of $27,007 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Natural Sciences Managers occupation pays about $180,250 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Physical Sciences?+
Physical Sciences maps to CIP 40.01 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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