by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 90 U.S. colleges awarded 4,883 degrees and certificates in Military Technologies & Applied Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 41% of graduates. College Factual ranks 40 schools in its 2027 Best Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,922 one year after completing, rising to $87,469 after four years.
Studying in the field of Military Technologies and Applied Science is excellent preparation for a career in the military. In this field you will be training with the military either through ROTC or at a military institution while working towards your degree.
This field is focused around math, science, and technology and is ideal for a student who wishes to enter the military. You need a bachelor's degree in order to be qualified to become an officer.
One major in this field is Intelligence Command and Control Operations; in this major you will work with all different types of people and technology, learning how to collect and analyze data. You could also specialize in Military Applied Science where you will learn to work with computers and technology to create weapons or help design strategic plans. You could specialize in specific engineering to work with the military or focus on security and protection.
A degree in Military Technologies & Applied Sciences explores Military Technologies And Applied Sciences. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals In Specialized And Advanced Subject Matter For The Armed Services And Related National Security Organizations, Including Intelligence Operations, Military Applied Sciences, And Military Technologies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, military technologies & applied sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 4,883 degrees awarded annually. 90 colleges award military technologies & applied sciences degrees, an average of 54 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 785.
By level, the 4,883 awards include 195 certificates, 863 associate degrees, 1,806 bachelor’s degrees, 2,001 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates.
Women earned 27% of military technologies & applied sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,311 of 4,883). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,538) and Hispanic or Latino (668), and international students earned 467.
College Factual ranks 40 schools in its 2027 Best Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 21 for bachelor’s degrees and 16 for master’s degrees. It also ranks military technologies & applied sciences schools within 9 states. In all, 90 colleges offer military technologies & applied sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common military technologies & applied sciences credential is the master’s degree: 2,001 of the 4,883 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to military technologies & applied sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Computers and Electronics and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
If you are at all interested in working in the military a major in this field is excellent preparation. You will have practical military training in addition to rigorous coursework. You will learn responsibility, time management and hard work, making you an ideal candidate to advance through the ranks in the military.
Communication and teamwork is essential to your success. Collaborating with others will allow you to get a job done effectively and creatively. Don't be afraid to think creatively and take initiative to find a successful solution to a problem. Advanced military training will instill leadership skills and confidence, giving you the ability to perform under pressure and make important decisions.
Coursework will involve a lot of math, science and computer skills. Use your critical thinking and analytical abilities to solve problems and perform research. Your physical endurance will also be tested through military field training.
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How long a military technologies & applied sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 195 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 863 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,806 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,001 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to military technologies & applied sciences, at 38.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 38.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 21.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.6% |
| Some college courses | 10.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.0% |
| Master’s degree | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
17 occupations are related to Military Technologies & Applied Sciences, with an average median salary of $64,288; the strongest outlook belongs to Detectives and Criminal Investigators, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Test Technician (Test Tech), Laser Specialist, Laser Operator and Photonics Engineering Technologist.
Obtaining a college degree before joining the military will allow you the freedom to focus in on an area you really enjoy. If you enter an ROTC program or attend a military school, you should be prepared to spend a certain number of years in the military based upon your contract. When you retire from the military, you will be qualified to enter numerous fields because of your background.
The occupation related to military technologies & applied sciences with the most projected jobs is Police Identification and Records Officers, at 532,882.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 214,833 | 10.6% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates earn a median $63,922 one year after completing their program, $87,469 after four years and $73,037 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,922 |
| 4 years | $87,469 |
| 5 years | $73,037 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to military technologies & applied sciences is Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, with a median salary of $121,642.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $77,835 |
| Special Forces Officers | $73,745 |
| Command and Control Center Specialists | $69,900 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences includes 5 concentrations that together award 4,883 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations (4,011), Military Applied Sciences (353) and Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other (287). Browse the full list of college majors.
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