Best institutions to study Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
A program that focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 5 Condensed Matter and Materials Physics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0808, a specialization of Physics (CIP 40.08), and leads most directly to the Physicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2012).
About Condensed Matter and Materials Physics programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. Includes instruction in low-temperature and solid-state physics, x-ray physics, liquids and soft materials, including the study of semiconductors, metals, superliquids, magnets, superconductors, glasses, gels, polymers, colloids, neural networks, and macromolecules.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Condensed Matter and Materials Physics program focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities of materials and their behaviors at various conditions, including low temperatures and solid states.
Students will gain core skills in science, mathematics, and critical thinking, along with knowledge in physics, engineering, and technology. Coursework typically includes low-temperature physics, solid-state physics, and the study of various materials such as semiconductors, magnets, and polymers.
Credentials awarded
What Condensed Matter and Materials Physics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 |
Top 1 institutions for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicDoctoral | 5 | 75% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Condensed Matter and Materials Physics graduates come from. Each state links to all Physics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 1 | 5 | Iowa State University5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2012, Physicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program often pursue careers as physicists, with additional opportunities as natural sciences managers or postsecondary physics teachers. The job outlook for physicists is expected to grow by 4% with about 1,700 annual openings, and the median wage is approximately $166,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0808
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 Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 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 - AcousticsCIP 40.0809partial data189 graduates / yr7 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
- 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 Condensed Matter and Materials Physics program?+
The program focuses on the study of physical phenomena and properties arising from microscopic interactions in materials.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis, among others.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as physicists, natural sciences managers, or postsecondary physics teachers.
What is the job outlook for physicists?+
The job outlook for physicists is expected to grow by 4%, with about 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics?+
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics is CIP 40.0808 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 macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. Includes instruction in low-temperature and solid-state physics, x-ray physics, liquids and soft materials, including the study of semiconductors, metals, superliquids, magnets, superconductors, glasses, gels, polymers, colloids, neural networks, and macromolecules.
How many institutions offer Condensed Matter and Materials Physics programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Condensed Matter and Materials Physics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 5 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Physics graduates.
How much do Condensed Matter and Materials Physics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Physicists occupation, which Condensed Matter and Materials Physics most directly leads to, pays a median of $172,250 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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