2024 Best Physical Sciences Schools
248
Colleges in the United States
49,473
Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$40,118
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. Combined, these schools handed out 49,473 degrees in physical sciences to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Physical Sciences School
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
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
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physical sciences. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Stanford. A Best Colleges rank of #3 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.
There were roughly 243 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences degree program at Stanford University make $17,300 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Stanford UniversityUniversity 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 about 361 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Chicago get an earnings boost of about $4,372 over the average earnings of physical sciences graduates.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of ChicagoAny student who is interested in physical sciences has to check out Northwestern University. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.
There were approximately 122.99999999999999 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from Northwestern University receive $31,962 more than the average physical sciences student.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Northwestern UniversityIt's hard to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a degree in physical sciences. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #18 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.
There were about 547 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley earn a boost of about $28,456 above the average income of physical sciences majors.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - BerkeleyJohns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.
There were roughly 263 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent year we have data available. Physical Sciences degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University receive an earnings boost of approximately $12,680 over the average earnings of physical sciences graduates.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Johns Hopkins UniversityLocated in the medium-sized 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 approximately 431 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of California - Santa Barbara earn $17,681 more than the typical physical sciences grad.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Santa BarbaraLocated in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 colleges for overall quality in the state of Illinois.
There were roughly 342 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earn a boost of approximately $19,493 above the average earnings of physical sciences majors.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCornell is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.
There were about 256 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients usually make an average of $38,146 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Cornell UniversityUCSD is a fairly large public university located in the city of La Jolla. This university ranks 8th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 628 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physical sciences program at University of California - San Diego make $9,178 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - San DiegoLocated in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #26 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.
There were roughly 390 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients usually earn an average of $40,129 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - Los AngelesLocated in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.
There were roughly 377 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences degree program at University of Wisconsin - Madison earn $5,141 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Wisconsin - MadisonLocated in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.
There were about 396 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 earn $9,141 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from The University of Texas at AustinU-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 379 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year. After graduation, physical sciences degree recipients usually make about $31,888 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Michigan - Ann ArborUMCP 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 roughly 265 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences program at University of Maryland - College Park make $9,237 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Maryland - College ParkLocated in the medium-sized 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 363 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from Texas A&M University - College Station earn a boost of around $10,616 over the average earnings of physical sciences graduates.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Texas A&M University - College StationLocated in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a 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 roughly 120 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of Notre Dame receive $22,713 more than the average physical sciences graduate.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Notre DameLocated 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 schools for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.
There were roughly 276 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of around $4,777 above the typical income of physical sciences majors.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesLocated in the 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 roughly 376 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University of Arizona in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of Arizona receive $28,598 more than the standard physical sciences student.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of ArizonaLocated in the suburb of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 11th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.
There were roughly 177 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent year we have data available. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Massachusetts Amherst get an earnings boost of about $11,556 above the average income of physical sciences majors.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Massachusetts AmherstUC Irvine is a very large public university located in the city of Irvine. This university ranks 15th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 350 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 report average early career income of $40,888.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of California - IrvineLocated 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 approximately 169 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Emory in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the physical sciences program make around $20,784 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Emory UniversityCaltech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the 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 158 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Caltech in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physical sciences major at California Institute of Technology get $19,878 above the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from California Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Virginia is a very large public university located in the small suburb of Charlottesville. This university ranks 1st out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.
There were roughly 236 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the physical sciences program make an average of $28,682 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Virginia - Main CampusLocated in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 51 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington.
There were approximately 543 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent year we have data available. 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 CampusOhio State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Columbus. This university ranks 2nd out of 96 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio.
There were approximately 366 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent year we have data available. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from Ohio State University - Main Campus earn $13,811 more than the typical physical sciences student.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Ohio State University - Main Campus