Best colleges for Physical Sciences in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Mary Washington, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Old Dominion University award the most Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in Virginia: 21, 21 and 1 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 3 Virginia colleges offer Physical Sciences and award 43 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Physical Sciences program focuses on the study of non-living systems, encompassing various branches of natural science. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the fundamental principles that govern the physical…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,464 | 21 | 66% | — | $25,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Physical Sciences degrees in Virginia
Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 21 | $35,464 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physical Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-2099).
What Physical Scientists, All Other earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physical Sciences programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Physical Sciences degrees?+
University of Mary Washington (21 graduates a year), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (21 graduates a year) and Old Dominion University (1 graduate a year) award the most Physical Sciences degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 3 Virginia colleges offer Physical Sciences.
Which Physical Sciences program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Mary Washington tops the list at $35,464. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Physical Sciences program?+
The Physical Sciences program focuses on the study of non-living systems, encompassing various branches of natural science. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the fundamental principles that govern the physical…
What is the job outlook for Physical Scientists, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +0.6% growth with around 2,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card