Best colleges for Science
A program that focuses on the contemporary social and public policy ramifications of science and technology, the interrelationship of science and engineering with the public policy process, and the social and ethical dimensions of scientific and technological enterprises.
46 U.S. institutions graduated 789 Science students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.1501, a specialization of Science (CIP 30.15), and leads most directly to the Natural Sciences Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9121).
About Science programs
A program that focuses on the contemporary social and public policy ramifications of science and technology, the interrelationship of science and engineering with the public policy process, and the social and ethical dimensions of scientific and technological enterprises.
See also: 54.0104 - History and Philosophy of Science and Technology., 51.3205 - History of Medicine.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Science, Technology and Society program focuses on the social and public policy implications of science and technology. It explores the interrelationship between scientific and engineering practices and the public policy process, emphasizing the ethical and social dimensions of these fields. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding how science impacts society and vice versa.
Students in this program acquire a diverse set of skills, including critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers knowledge areas such as biology, chemistry, administration, and management, equipping graduates with the tools to analyze and address complex societal issues related to science and technology.
Credentials awarded
What Science graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree629 graduates / yr · 29 institutions80%
- Master's degree89 graduates / yr · 9 institutions11%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship40 graduates / yr · 7 institutions5.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate9 graduates / yr · 7 institutions1.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.0%
- Post-master's certificate8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Science completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 722 |
| 2013 | 796 |
| 2014 | 828 |
| 2015 | 836 |
| 2016 | 897 |
| 2017 | 1,075 |
| 2018 | 1,017 |
| 2019 | 1,114 |
| 2020 | 1,028 |
| 2021 | 1,036 |
| 2022 | 913 |
| 2023 | 737 |
| 2024 | 724 |
| 2025 | 789 |
Top 46 institutions for Science, 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 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NYPublicBachelor's | 207 | 53% | — | $31,638 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 74 | 92% | $12,032 | $44,736 |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 61 | 80% | — | $54,235 |
| 4 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 54 | 96% | $14,644 | — |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor's | 52 | 85% | — | $43,150 |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 49 | 94% | — | $40,297 |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 28 | 68% | — | $39,993 |
| 8 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 9 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 91% | $29,107 | $27,215 |
| 10 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 17 | 86% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicBachelor's | 17 | 65% | — | — |
| 12 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 16 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 13 | University of California-Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 15 | 86% | — | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 15 | 86% | — | — |
| 15 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 15 | 0% | — | — |
| 16 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LAPublicMaster's | 12 | 45% | — | — |
| 17 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 12 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 18 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 96% | $11,666 | — |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 9 | 90% | — | — |
| 20 | Washburn University Topeka, KSPublicBachelor's | 7 | 53% | — | — |
| 21 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 7 | 68% | — | — |
| 22 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicBachelor's | 6 | 73% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor's | 6 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TNPublicMaster's | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 68% | $35,057 | — |
| 26 | Colby College Waterville, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 89% | $15,696 | — |
| 27 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor's | 5 | 81% | — | — |
| 28 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SDPublicBachelor's | 5 | 53% | — | — |
| 29 | Central Wyoming College Riverton, WYPublicAssociate's | 5 | 37% | — | — |
| 30 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 31 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster's | 4 | 93% | — | — |
| 32 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 90% | $32,926 | — |
| 33 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 84% | $28,900 | — |
| 34 | Beloit College Beloit, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 71% | $21,381 | — |
| 35 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 36 | Scripps College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 83% | $26,171 | — |
| 37 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 95% | $22,242 | $51,399 |
| 38 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 64% | — | — |
| 39 | Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 40 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 41 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 42 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 64% | — | — |
| 43 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 44 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 54% | — | — |
| 45 | Purdue University West Lafayette, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 83% | — | — |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 34% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Science field (CIP 30.15) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 26 states
Where Science graduates come from. Each state links to all Science programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9121, Natural Sciences Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Science, Technology and Society program can pursue careers as Natural Sciences Managers or Postsecondary Teachers, among other roles. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.7% and approximately 8,500 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $161,180, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.1501
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Natural Sciences Managersprimary SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | 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 Science 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and monitoring.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Natural Sciences Manager or a Postsecondary Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.7% and 8,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Science?+
Science is CIP 30.1501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Science (CIP 30.15). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the contemporary social and public policy ramifications of science and technology, the interrelationship of science and engineering with the public policy process, and the social and ethical dimensions of scientific and technological enterprises.
How many institutions offer Science programs?+
46 U.S. institutions reported Science graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 26 states, awarding 789 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Science graduates.
How much do Science graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Natural Sciences Managers occupation, which Science most directly leads to, pays a median of $167,220 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Science field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,150, 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 graduates, so its figures match the Science program page.
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