Best institutions to study Acoustics
A program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 189 Acoustics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0809, a specialization of Physics (CIP 40.08), and leads most directly to the Physicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2012).
About Acoustics programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions. Includes instruction in wave theory, the acoustic wave equation, energy transformation, vibration phenomena, sound reflection and transmission, scattering and surface wave phenomena, singularity expansion theory, ducting, and applications to specific research problems such as underwater acoustics, crystallography, and health diagnostics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Acoustics program, a subset of Physics, delves into the scientific study of sound and its properties. Students explore acoustic wave phenomena, wave theory, and applications in various fields including underwater acoustics and health diagnostics. This program is designed for those interested in understanding sound's behavior under different conditions and its practical applications in research and technology.
Core coursework in Acoustics covers essential skills in science, mathematics, and critical thinking. Students learn to analyze data, perform complex calculations, and design computer simulations to model physical data, all while developing strong writing and communication abilities.
Credentials awarded
What Acoustics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree102 graduates / yr · 4 institutions54%
- Master's degree77 graduates / yr · 4 institutions41%
- Post-master's certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Acoustics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 61 |
| 2014 | 35 |
| 2015 | 41 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 48 |
| 2018 | 56 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 123 |
| 2021 | 96 |
| 2022 | 121 |
| 2023 | 168 |
| 2024 | 175 |
| 2025 | 189 |
Top 7 institutions for Acoustics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 99 | 88% | $29,023 | $24,802 |
| 2 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 45 | 52% | $28,087 | — |
| 3 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 20 | 74% | $39,487 | — |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster's | 12 | 34% | — | $43,461 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 86% | — | $43,461 |
| 6 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NHPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 76% | — | — |
| 7 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 81% | $13,712 | $68,664 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Physics field (CIP 40.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Acoustics graduates come from. Each state links to all Physics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 99 | New York University99 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 45 | Columbia College Chicago45 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 21 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus12 / yr |
| California | 1 | 20 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music20 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 2 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 2 | Brigham Young University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2012, Physicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Acoustics program can pursue careers as physicists, natural sciences managers, or postsecondary physics teachers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 1,700 annual openings and a median wage of $166,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0809
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physicistsprimary SOC 19-2012 | $172,250 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1054 | $100,310 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~1,300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Acoustics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Teach physics to students.
Tools and technology used
Other Physics specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Physics (CIP 40.08).
- PhysicsCIP 40.080112,137 graduates / yr800 institutions
- PhysicsCIP 40.0899470 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Optics/CIP 40.0807
Optical Sciences 266 graduates / yr15 institutions - Theoretical and Mathematical PhysicsCIP 40.0810partial data34 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Atomic/CIP 40.0802
Molecular Physics partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions - Elementary Particle PhysicsCIP 40.0804partial data12 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Condensed Matter and Materials PhysicsCIP 40.0808limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Nuclear PhysicsCIP 40.0806limited data4 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Plasma and High-Temperature Physics40.0805
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Acoustics program?+
The program focuses on the scientific study of sound and the behavior of acoustic wave phenomena.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Post-master's certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You'll develop skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook includes about 1,700 annual openings with a median wage of $166,290.
What is the CIP code for Acoustics?+
Acoustics is CIP 40.0809 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Physics (CIP 40.08). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions. Includes instruction in wave theory, the acoustic wave equation, energy transformation, vibration phenomena, sound reflection and transmission, scattering and surface wave phenomena, singularity expansion theory, ducting, and applications to specific research problems such as underwater acoustics, crystallography, and health diagnostics.
How many institutions offer Acoustics programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Acoustics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 189 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Physics graduates.
How much do Acoustics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Physicists occupation, which Acoustics most directly leads to, pays a median of $172,250 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Physics field report median earnings of $43,461 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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