by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 309 U.S. colleges awarded 29,811 degrees and certificates in Biological & Physical Science. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 84% of graduates. College Factual ranks 200 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Physical Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $36,306 one year after completing, rising to $57,074 after four years.
Biological & Physical Science is an interdisciplinary major that combines subjects in biology and physical sciences. Physical Science involves the nonliving physical world. Some of the subjects are astronomy, chemistry, geology, physics, math, and meteorology. In contrast, biology involves the study of the living world. Combining the two subjects will allow you to apply abstract formulas and theories to real world situations to come up with concrete solutions.
Depending on the fields in which you focus, your courses will vary. However, you can expect to take biology, chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics.
A major in Biological & Physical Science explores Biological And Physical Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., biological & physical science is a widely-pursued major, with 29,811 degrees awarded annually. 309 colleges award biological & physical science degrees, an average of 96 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,279.
By level, the 29,811 awards include 50 certificates, 25,004 associate degrees, 2,330 bachelor’s degrees, 2,345 master’s degrees and 82 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of biological & physical science degrees and certificates in the latest year (18,356 of 29,811). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (11,595) and White (8,787), and international students earned 884.
College Factual ranks 200 schools in its 2027 Best Biological & Physical Science Schools ranking, including 155 for associate degrees, 35 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks biological & physical science schools within 19 states. In all, 309 colleges offer biological & physical science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Biological & Physical Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common biological & physical science credential is the associate degree: 25,004 of the 29,811 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biological & physical science call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This program will demand very analytical thinking. As you conduct experiments and get results, you will learn how to analyze your results with accuracy and precision. You should enjoy problem solving and experimenting. Answers will come to those with persistence in repeating tests over and over again.
You will spend a lot of time working on teams for group projects, in labs, or during a study group. You should be able to serve as a contributing team member and collaborate with your peers. Work on your writing skills so you can clearly explain your findings.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a biological & physical science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 50 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 25,004 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,330 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,345 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 82 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biological & physical science, at 63.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 63.6% |
| Master’s degree | 8.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Biological & Physical Science, with an average median salary of $113,954; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Military Science Instructor, Teacher, Science Teacher and Flight Simulator Teacher.
There are many career paths you can follow with a degree in Biological and Physical Science. The career you choose will depend on your focus as an undergraduate. Some may choose to continue their studies in graduate school. If you would rather go straight into a job you can find work as a lab researcher, biological technician, environmental scientist or chemist.
The occupation related to biological & physical science with the most projected jobs is Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, at 964,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Biological & Physical Science graduates earn a median $36,306 one year after completing their program, $57,074 after four years and $56,049 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,306 |
| 4 years | $57,074 |
| 5 years | $56,049 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biological & physical science is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
Biological & Physical Science includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Biological and Physical Sciences (29,811). It has 48 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 120,611 degrees a year; the largest are Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (29,665), Data Analytics (17,572) and Data Science (11,772). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 29,811 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 29,665 |
| Data Analytics | 17,572 |
| Data Science | 11,772 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11,175 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 6,906 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,644 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,569 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,567 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,911 |
| Natural Sciences | 3,002 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
