by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 818 U.S. colleges awarded 12,923 degrees and certificates in General Physics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 260 schools in its 2027 Best General Physics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing, rising to $85,749 after four years.
Studying General Physics involves the study of Physics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Matter And Energy, And The Formulation And Testing Of The Laws Governing The Behavior Of The Matter-Energy Continuum. Includes Instruction In Classical And Modern Physics, Electricity And Magnetism, Thermodynamics, Mechanics, Wave Properties, Nuclear Processes, Relativity And Quantum Theory, Quantitative Methods, And Laboratory Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general physics draws strong interest, with 12,923 degrees awarded annually. 818 colleges award general physics degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 187.
By level, the 12,923 awards include 1,838 associate degrees, 7,053 bachelor’s degrees, 2,118 master’s degrees and 1,914 doctorates.
Women earned 26% of general physics degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,368 of 12,923). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,957) and Hispanic or Latino (1,787), and international students earned 2,556.
College Factual ranks 260 schools in its 2027 Best General Physics Schools ranking, including 184 for bachelor’s degrees, 70 for master’s degrees and 81 for doctorates. It also ranks general physics schools within 39 states. In all, 818 colleges offer general physics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Physics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general physics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 7,053 of the 12,923 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general physics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a general physics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,838 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,053 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,118 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,914 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general physics, at 46.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.7% |
| Master’s degree | 11.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to General Physics, with an average median salary of $115,544; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Trials Manager.
The occupation related to general physics with the most projected jobs is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, at 571,954.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Physicists | 118,738 | 8.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
General Physics graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing their program, $85,749 after four years and $87,663 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,584 |
| 4 years | $85,749 |
| 5 years | $87,663 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general physics 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 |
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
General Physics has 8 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 1,006 degrees a year; the largest are Physics, Other (480), Optics/Optical Sciences (267) and Acoustics (189). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, Other | 480 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 267 |
| Acoustics | 189 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 12 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 12 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 5 |
| Nuclear Physics | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
