Best colleges for Science Technologies/Technicians
Any instructional program in science technologies not listed above.
56 U.S. institutions graduated 2,473 Science Technologies/Technicians students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 41.9999, a specialization of Science Technologies/Technicians (CIP 41.99), and leads most directly to the Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health occupation (BLS SOC 19-4042).
About Science Technologies/Technicians programs
Any instructional program in science technologies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Science Technologies/Technicians program offers students a comprehensive education in various science technologies not specifically categorized elsewhere. This program is designed for individuals interested in applying scientific principles to solve real-world problems and contribute to various fields, including environmental science and health protection. Students gain practical skills and knowledge that prepare them for a range of technical roles in the science sector.
In this program, students develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes knowledge of chemistry, biology, and mathematics, along with hands-on training in collecting and analyzing samples to assess environmental conditions and public health.
Credentials awarded
What Science Technologies/Technicians graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree2,014 graduates / yr · 40 institutions81%
- Bachelor's degree328 graduates / yr · 11 institutions13%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years64 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.6%
- Master's degree53 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Science Technologies/Technicians completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,260 |
| 2013 | 1,239 |
| 2014 | 1,664 |
| 2015 | 1,783 |
| 2016 | 1,856 |
| 2017 | 2,279 |
| 2018 | 2,312 |
| 2019 | 2,626 |
| 2020 | 3,145 |
| 2021 | 2,450 |
| 2022 | 2,366 |
| 2023 | 2,433 |
| 2024 | 2,515 |
| 2025 | 2,473 |
Top 50 institutions for Science Technologies/Technicians, 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 starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAssociate's | 293 | 32% | — | $45,268 |
| 2 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAssociate's | 290 | 38% | — | — |
| 3 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAssociate's | 238 | 47% | — | — |
| 4 | Frederick Community College Frederick, MDPublicAssociate's | 187 | 37% | — | — |
| 5 | Augusta Technical College Augusta, GAPublicAssociate's | 174 | 31% | — | — |
| 6 | Athens Technical College Athens, GAPublicAssociate's | 160 | 51% | — | — |
| 7 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 108 | 0% | — | $60,661 |
| 8 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GAPublicAssociate's | 97 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | Trinidad State College Trinidad, COPublicAssociate's | 89 | 55% | — | — |
| 10 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MIPublicAssociate's | 72 | 21% | — | $53,078 |
| 11 | Mountwest Community and Technical College Huntington, WVPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 61 | 19% | — | — |
| 12 | Kean University Union, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 53 | 47% | — | — |
| 13 | Savannah Technical College Savannah, GAPublicAssociate's | 44 | 42% | — | — |
| 14 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GAPublicAssociate's | 42 | 44% | — | — |
| 15 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 40 | 61% | — | $44,338 |
| 16 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAssociate's | 38 | 58% | — | — |
| 17 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAssociate's | 37 | 34% | — | — |
| 18 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 35 | 61% | $23,331 | $59,366 |
| 19 | Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GAPublicAssociate's | 35 | 43% | — | — |
| 20 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GAPublicAssociate's | 33 | 32% | — | — |
| 21 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GAPublicAssociate's | 32 | 49% | — | — |
| 22 | Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GAPublicAssociate's | 29 | 31% | — | — |
| 23 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor's | 28 | 68% | — | $60,661 |
| 24 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 28 | 68% | — | $48,334 |
| 25 | Rose State College Midwest City, OKPublicAssociate's | 21 | 20% | — | — |
| 26 | BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston, WVPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 34% | — | — |
| 27 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster's | 19 | 85% | — | — |
| 28 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 29 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 16 | 30% | — | — |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor's | 16 | 85% | — | $72,274 |
| 31 | Community College of Vermont Montpelier, VTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 20% | — | — |
| 32 | Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury, MDPublicAssociate's | 15 | 27% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WIPublicBachelor's | 14 | 55% | — | $32,099 |
| 34 | Community College of Aurora Aurora, COPublicAssociate's | 8 | 33% | — | — |
| 35 | Baltimore City Community College Baltimore, MDPublicAssociate's | 7 | 17% | — | — |
| 36 | Blackfeet Community College Browning, MTPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 7 | 62% | $6,463 | — |
| 37 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 38% | — | — |
| 38 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DEPublicAssociate's | 5 | 22% | — | — |
| 39 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 40 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MDPublicBachelor's | 4 | 68% | — | — |
| 41 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicAssociate's | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 43 | College of the Redwoods Eureka, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 3 | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAssociate's | 3 | 40% | — | — |
| 45 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PAPublicMaster's | 3 | 58% | — | — |
| 46 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg Parkersburg, WVPublicAssociate's | 3 | 9% | — | — |
| 47 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Martinsburg, WVPublicAssociate's | 3 | 32% | — | — |
| 48 | North Dakota State University Fargo, NDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 64% | — | — |
| 49 | Stone Child College Box Elder, MTPublicAssociate's | 2 | 34% | — | — |
| 50 | Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 48% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Science Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 41.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 21 states
Where Science Technologies/Technicians graduates come from. Each state links to all Science Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4042, Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Science Technologies/Technicians program can pursue careers as Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, among other roles. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4% and approximately 5,600 annual job openings. The median wage for these positions is around $49,490, with an Associate's degree being the typical educational requirement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 41.9999
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Healthprimary SOC 19-4042 | $55,090 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Associate's degree |
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other SOC 19-4099 | $62,280 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~10,600 | Associate's degree |
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians SOC 19-4043 | $53,350 | +1.5% Little or no change | ~1,300 | Associate's degree |
Hydrologic Technicians SOC 19-4044 | $64,790 | -2.1% Decline | ~400 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Science Technologies/Technicians 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
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards, such as high noise levels, radiation, or potential lighting hazards.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and science, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Environmental Science Technician, Geological Technician, or in other related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4% and 5,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Science Technologies/Technicians?+
Science Technologies/Technicians is CIP 41.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Science Technologies/Technicians (CIP 41.99). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in science technologies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Science Technologies/Technicians programs?+
56 U.S. institutions reported Science Technologies/Technicians graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 21 states, awarding 2,473 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Science Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Science Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health occupation, which Science Technologies/Technicians most directly leads to, pays a median of $55,090 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Science Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,078, 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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Science Technologies/Technicians graduates, so its figures match the Science Technologies/Technicians program page.
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