In the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 909 degrees and certificates in Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 98% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing, rising to $136,209 after four years.
Studying Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences explores Industrial And Physical Pharmacy And Cosmetic Sciences. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Pharmaceutical Sciences And Pharmacy To The Study Of Pharmaceuticals Production And Distribution, And Prepares Individuals To Manage Pharmaceutical Industry Operations. Includes Instruction In Pharmacoeconomics, Industrial Management, Operations Management, Preformulation Evaluation, Product Formulation/reformulation, Drug Product Development, Stability Testing, Dosage Design, Pilot Scale-Up, Drug Marketing, Quality Control, Drug Information, And Legal And Regulatory Affairs. Examples: [Industrial And Physical Pharmacy And Cosmetic Sciences (Ms)], [Industrial And Physical Pharmacy And Cosmetic Sciences (Phd)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences draws strong interest, with 909 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences degrees, an average of 83 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 661.
By level, the 909 awards include 22 bachelor’s degrees and 887 master’s degrees.
Women earned 67% of industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (610 of 909). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (100) and Asian (44), and international students earned 679.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences schools within 3 states. In all, 11 colleges offer industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences credential is the master’s degree: 887 of the 909 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 22 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 887 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences, at 39.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.2% |
| Some college courses | 9.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences, with an average median salary of $120,844; the strongest outlook belongs to Hydroelectric Production Managers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Plant Manager, Medical Aides Teacher, Occupational Therapy Aides Teacher and Clinical Laboratory Science Professor.
The occupation related to industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences with the most projected jobs is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | 241,551 | -3.1% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 219,777 | -3.0% |
Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences graduates earn a median $100,478 one year after completing their program, $136,209 after four years and $140,038 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $100,478 |
| 4 years | $136,209 |
| 5 years | $140,038 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to industrial and physical pharmacy and cosmetic sciences is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 16,490 degrees a year; the largest are Pharmacy (11,415), Pharmaceutical Sciences (2,572) and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other (911). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.