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2024 Best Physical Sciences Schools

248 Colleges in the United States
50,306 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$39,880 Avg Early-Career Salary
Physical Sciences isn't the most popular major in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #19 in popularity out of 38 majors in the country. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 248 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physical sciences students pursuing a degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 50,306 degrees in physical sciences during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Physical Sciences School

Best Physical Sciences Schools Your choice of physical sciences school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for physical sciences schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Physical Sciences Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Physical Sciences
Bachelor's Degrees in Physical Sciences
Master's Degrees in Physical Sciences
Doctor's Degrees in Physical Sciences

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Physical Sciences Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Physical Sciences in the United States

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in Physical Sciences

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
243 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
0.8% Growth in Graduates

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in physical sciences. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Stanford. A Best Colleges rank of #3 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.

There were approximately 243 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from Stanford University receive an earnings boost of about $17,538 over the average earnings of physical sciences majors.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Stanford University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
317 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
11.7% Growth in Graduates

University of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physical sciences. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UChicago is a great university overall.

There were roughly 317.00000000000006 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences degree program at University of Chicago get $4,611 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Chicago

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
146 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
15.1% Growth in Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in physical sciences needs to look into Northwestern University. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.

There were about 146 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from Northwestern University earn $32,200 more than the typical physical sciences graduate.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Northwestern University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
560 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$68,574 Median Starting Salary

It is difficult to beat University of California - Berkeley if you wish to pursue a degree in physical sciences. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #18 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.

There were roughly 560 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences major at University of California - Berkeley make $28,694 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Berkeley

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
244 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
16.4% Growth in Graduates

Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Baltimore. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.

There were about 244 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from Johns Hopkins University make $12,918 more than the typical physical sciences student.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Johns Hopkins University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
400 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$57,799 Median Starting Salary

Located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 10th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 400 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of California - Santa Barbara receive an earnings boost of approximately $17,919 over the typical income of physical sciences majors.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Santa Barbara

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
375 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$59,612 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were roughly 375 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences major at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earn $19,732 more than the standard graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
258 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$38,146 Median Starting Salary

Cornell is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were roughly 258 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent data year. After graduating, physical sciences degree recipients usually earn around $38,146 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Cornell University

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
598 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
2.3% Growth in Graduates

UCSD is a very large public university located in the large city of La Jolla. This university ranks 8th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were about 598 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of California - San Diego earn $9,416 more than the typical physical sciences grad.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - San Diego

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
371 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
7.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #26 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.

There were about 371 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, physical sciences degree recipients generally make about $40,129 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Los Angeles

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
401 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
1.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.

There were about 401 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison earn $5,379 more than the standard physical sciences graduate.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Wisconsin - Madison

12
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
351 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$49,260 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 351 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences major at The University of Texas at Austin get $9,380 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from The University of Texas at Austin

13
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
347 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$31,888 Median Starting Salary

U-M is a very large public university located in the city of Ann Arbor. A Best Colleges rank of #29 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.

There were about 347 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, physical sciences degree recipients typically make an average of $31,888 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

14
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
267 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$49,355 Median Starting Salary

UMCP is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of College Park. This university ranks 2nd out of 36 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

There were about 267 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Maryland - College Park receive an earnings boost of about $9,475 over the average earnings of physical sciences graduates.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Maryland - College Park

15
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
376 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
5.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were approximately 376 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physical sciences program at Texas A&M University - College Station get $10,854 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Texas A&M University - College Station

16
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
99 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
5.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #20 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Notre Dame is a great university overall.

There were about 99 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of Notre Dame receive $22,951 more than the average physical sciences graduate.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Notre Dame

17
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
343 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
2.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 52 colleges for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.

There were approximately 343 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of approximately $5,015 above the typical income of physical sciences graduates.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

18
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
374 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$68,717 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 26 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona.

There were approximately 374 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University of Arizona in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Arizona receive an earnings boost of about $28,837 over the average income of physical sciences majors.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Arizona

19
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
190 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$51,675 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large suburb of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 11th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 190 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physical sciences degree program at University of Massachusetts Amherst earn $11,795 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Massachusetts Amherst

20
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
367 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$40,888 Median Starting Salary

UC Irvine is a fairly large public university located in the city of Irvine. This university ranks 15th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 367 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the physical sciences program state that they receive average early career income of $40,888.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Irvine

21
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
138 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$20,784 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Emory is a great university overall.

There were roughly 138 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Emory in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the physical sciences program earn about $20,784 for their early career.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Emory University

22
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
143 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
20.3% Growth in Graduates

Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Pasadena. A Best Colleges rank of #31 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Caltech is a great school overall.

There were roughly 143 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Caltech in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from California Institute of Technology make $20,116 more than the average physical sciences grad.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from California Institute of Technology

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
241 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
22.8% Growth in Graduates

University of Virginia is a very large public university located in the suburb of Charlottesville. This university ranks 1st out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were roughly 241 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the physical sciences program make an average of $28,682 for their early career.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Virginia - Main Campus

24
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
612 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$40,318 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 51 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were about 612 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the physical sciences program state that they receive average early career earnings of $40,318.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

25
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
310 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$53,929 Median Starting Salary

Ohio State is a very large public university located in the city of Columbus. This university ranks 2nd out of 96 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio.

There were approximately 310 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from Ohio State University - Main Campus earn $14,050 more than the average physical sciences graduate.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Ohio State University - Main Campus

Rest of the Top Best Physical Sciences Schools

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30
31
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34
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36
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
37

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Physical Sciences Schools award.

Rank College Location
38 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
39 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
40 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC
41 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
42 Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GA
43 Boston University Boston, MA
44 Williams College Williamstown, MA
45 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
46 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
47 University of Houston Houston, TX
48 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
49 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA

Physical Sciences by Region

View the Best Physical Sciences Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

Physical Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 21,239
Physics 13,674
Geological & Earth Sciences 7,821
General Physical Sciences 3,823
Astronomy & Astrophysics 1,375
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 1,140
Materials Sciences 658
Other Physical Science 538
Physics and Astronomy 38

View All Physical Sciences Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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