Physical Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 557 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.
Where you study physical sciences matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Physical Sciences Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Physical Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Stanford University tops our 2027 ranking of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 239 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #2. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 48 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 208 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $74,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 153 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $75,299 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Rice University
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 288 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Harvard University
Washington University In St Louis came in at #6 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 140 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 602 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $81,477. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,352 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of California Berkeley
Northwestern University placed #8 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $90,302 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Vanderbilt University placed #9 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 60 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Vanderbilt University
Brown University came in at #10 for physical sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 162 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
See the full physical sciences program report for Brown University
University Of Chicago earned the #11 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 316 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of Chicago
Dartmouth College earned the #12 position for physical sciences this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
See the full physical sciences program report for Dartmouth College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #13 position for physical sciences this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $65,183 in their early career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Tufts University placed #14 among the best physical sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 83 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University landed the #15 spot for physical sciences this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 78 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #16 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 33 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $65,599 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,586.
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Amherst College came in at #17 for physical sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $59,271 early in their careers. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Amherst College
Princeton University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 264 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Princeton University
Middlebury College landed the #19 spot for physical sciences this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $54,713 in their early career. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Middlebury College
Boston College placed #20 among the best physical sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 64 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full physical sciences program report for Boston College
Colgate University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 38 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286.
See the full physical sciences program report for Colgate University
Bowdoin College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 50 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
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Drake University earned the #23 position for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete this degree.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology landed the #24 spot for physical sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Newark. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn around $71,549 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,755.
See the full physical sciences program report for New Jersey Institute Of Technology
University Of Denver placed #25 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Denver earn around $56,999 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of Denver
Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physical sciences ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 557 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
