by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 353 degrees and certificates in Military Applied Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing, rising to $106,353 after four years.
Military Applied Science is major that prepared students to work in the United States Armed Forces. This is a broad major that appeals to students with many different interests. There a variety of concentrations available within this major.
Students will complete practical military training in addition to their classes. Students will be expected to learn how to shoot a rifle, complete obstacle courses, rappel, and develop other physical fitness skills. Other aspects of the major include engineering, building and maintaining weapon control systems, computer programming and strategic planning. Some students will also have the ability to learn about lasers and concentrated energy to make weapons.
Courses you will take are ethics, military law, American history, leadership skills, strategy, politics, logistics, field training, chemistry, computer science, computer programming, engineering, and management skills.
There are a lot of opportunities to specialize in this major. Some of the most popular concentrations are Combat Systems Engineering, Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology, Air and Space Operations Technology, Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, and Munitions Systems / Ordnance Technology.
A major in Military Applied Sciences involves the study of Military Applied Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, military applied sciences draws strong interest, with 353 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award military applied sciences degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 89.
By level, the 353 awards include 6 associate degrees, 87 bachelor’s degrees, 259 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 22% of military applied sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (76 of 353). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (218) and Hispanic or Latino (42), and international students earned 13.
The most common military applied sciences credential is the master’s degree: 259 of the 353 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to military applied sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Quality Control Analysis and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Written Comprehension.
This major does an excellent job of teaching you skills that apply in the military and in the classroom. Students will need great organizational and time management skills to complete all their tasks in a timely fashion. You should be able to work confidently and calmly under pressure.
Students will need communication and team work skills, as well as the ability to step into the leadership position. Training will involve a lot of team and group work. Learn to lean on your peers for support and help.
Your academic work will involve working with advanced technology, math, and sciences. You should be able to think analytically and critically. Determination will also be important as you work with difficult theories and problems.
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How long a military applied sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 87 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 259 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to military applied sciences, at 47.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.9% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Master’s degree | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Military Applied Sciences, with an average median salary of $86,697; the strongest outlook belongs to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, at 3.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Test Technician (Test Tech), Laser Specialist, Fiber Optics Cabling Specialist and Medical Laser Technician (Medical Laser Tech).
A Bachelor's degree in Applied Military Science prepares you or a career in the armed forces where you have the ability to advance through the ranks to become an officer. If you attend a military academy or join ROTC, you will be committing to a certain number of years in the military. Upon retiring from the military, graduates can use their practical skills in a variety of careers, finding work as teachers, researchers, managers or technicians.
The occupation related to military applied sciences with the most projected jobs is Photonics Technicians, at 306,018.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
| Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders, All Other | 41,278 | 0.6% |
Military Applied Sciences graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing their program, $106,353 after four years and $58,787 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $89,751 |
| 4 years | $106,353 |
| 5 years | $58,787 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to military 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 |
| Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders, All Other | $60,551 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
Military Applied Sciences includes 6 concentrations that together award 353 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Space Systems Operations (193), Military Applied Sciences, Other (97) and Undersea Warfare (32). It has 4 similar majors in the Military Technologies & Sciences field, which together award 4,530 degrees a year; the largest are Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations (4,011), Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other (287) and Military Systems and Maintenance Technology (226). Browse all Military Technologies & Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Space Systems Operations | 193 |
| Military Applied Sciences, Other | 97 |
| Undersea Warfare | 32 |
| Combat Systems Engineering | 19 |
| Engineering Acoustics | 6 |
| Operational Oceanography | 6 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 4,011 |
| Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | 287 |
| Military Systems and Maintenance Technology | 226 |
| Military Technology and Applied Sciences Management | 6 |
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