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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Physical Sciences in Pennsylvania

94 Ranked Colleges
2,617 Degrees Awarded
$33,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 50,306 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 2,617 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,870 and $26,404 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania” ranking looked at 94 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physical sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular physical sciences programs in the United States.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania”.

1
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 226 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Carnegie Mellon

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 222 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

3
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 204 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UPenn

4
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Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Temple University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania. Temple University is a public institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 93 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Temple

5
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Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Out of the 94 schools in the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Villanova University landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 92 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Villanova Physical Sciences Report

6
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Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

7
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Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #7, Drexel University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Drexel is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 70 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Drexel

8
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. This fairly large school is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 66 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at West Chester University of Pennsylvania

9
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Lehigh is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Lehigh University

10
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Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This small school is located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 59 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Haverford Physical Sciences Report

11
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Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Millersville University of Pennsylvania is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Millersville University of Pennsylvania Physical Sciences Report

12
Kutztown University crest
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Kutztown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

13
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Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Franklin and Marshall College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Franklin and Marshall is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Franklin and Marshall College

14
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Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #14, Duquesne University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Duquesne University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 31 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Duquesne University Physical Sciences Report

15
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. SRU is a public institution located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

15
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Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Bucknell University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #15. Lewisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Bucknell

17

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized school is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 25 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at IUP

18
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Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Bryn Mawr College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Bryn Mawr Physical Sciences Report

18

With a ranking of #18, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Clarion, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Clarion University of Pennsylvania

20
Dickinson crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Dickinson College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Dickinson Physical Sciences Report

21
Ship crest
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #21. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

21
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Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, Pennsylvania

Washington & Jefferson College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Washington, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Washington & Jefferson College

23
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Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Swarthmore College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Swarthmore Physical Sciences Report

23
Susquehanna crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania ranking. This small school is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Susquehanna University Physical Sciences Report

23
Ursinus crest
Ursinus College
Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Ursinus College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Ursinus

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References

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