Physical Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 427 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physical sciences students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for physical sciences. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 112 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for physical sciences. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 104 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 $68,215 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Rice University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #3. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 64 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 54 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Northwestern University earn around $90,302 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University came in at #7 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 21 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Harvard University earned the #8 position for physical sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 123 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. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Brown University landed the #9 spot for physical sciences this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 40 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Tufts University placed #10 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 51 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University landed the #11 spot for physical sciences this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 130 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $78,087. Typical student debt for the program is $12,366.
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Dartmouth College landed the #12 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 43 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University earned the #13 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 88 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 354 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $56,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,352 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Boston College came in at #16 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 31 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $66,132 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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San Jose State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 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 earned the #18 position for physical sciences this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 19 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology came in at #19 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 37 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
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Amherst College landed the #20 spot for physical sciences this year. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Amherst College awarded about 33 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $59,271. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
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Yale University landed the #21 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $65,336. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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University Of Chicago came in at #22 for physical sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 138 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.
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Middlebury College placed #23 among the best physical sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $67,862 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University came in at #25 for physical sciences this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 38 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University 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.
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Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong physical sciences education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 427 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).