Best Schools for Physical Sciences in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical sciences education in California.
Top Schools in Physical Sciences
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in physical sciences. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 241 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full physical sciences program report for Stanford University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for physical sciences. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 109 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Southern California
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for physical sciences. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 102 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #4. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 536 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $81,553 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,352 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of California Berkeley
Harvey Mudd College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #5. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 30 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Harvey Mudd College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Harvey Mudd College earn a median of $130,443 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,730.
See the full physical sciences program report for Harvey Mudd College
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #6 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 423 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $49,067 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $17,108 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
See the full physical sciences program report for Pepperdine University
University Of California Irvine placed #8 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 355 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $56,140 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $14,194 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #9 for physical sciences this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 456 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $73,410 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,991.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of California Los Angeles
Pomona College came in at #10 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Pomona College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #11 position for physical sciences this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 98 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $48,489 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,718 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis placed #12 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 231 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $55,329 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,302 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge placed #13 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $44,874 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for California State University Northridge
Sonoma State University earned the #14 position for physical sciences this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $51,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,031 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Sonoma State University
California State University East Bay placed #15 among the best physical sciences schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
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California Institute Of Technology landed the #16 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 159 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.
See the full physical sciences program report for California Institute Of Technology
Westmont College landed the #17 spot for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Westmont College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Westmont College earn around $44,240 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,773.
See the full physical sciences program report for Westmont College
University Of San Francisco placed #18 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 27 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $65,223 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of San Francisco
University Of Redlands earned the #19 position for physical sciences this year. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 15 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Redlands earn around $57,218 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 74 physical sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $42,132 in their early career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $17,583 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 490 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $70,345 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,387.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of California San Diego
San Francisco State University landed the #22 spot for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 70 physical sciences degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $44,140 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
See the full physical sciences program report for San Francisco State University
College Of The Canyons ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. There were roughly 32 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from College Of The Canyons
California State University Los Angeles placed #24 among the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $44,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for California State University Los Angeles
California Baptist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. California Baptist University awarded about 21 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $51,999 in their early career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for California Baptist University
Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
These schools also placed among the best for physical sciences this year:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 174 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
