Best Schools for Physical Sciences in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical sciences education in Washington.
Top Schools in Physical Sciences
No school ranked higher than Whitman College this year for physical sciences. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Walla Walla. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 28 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Whitman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Whitman College earn around $32,345 in the first couple years of their career. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 449 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $42,006. Typical student debt for the program is $17,011.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a large public institution. About 41 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $39,975 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,154.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom
A rank of #4 makes Clark College one of the top schools for physical sciences. Clark College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Vancouver. About 32 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Clark College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Clark College earn around $43,768 in the first couple years of their career. Clark College graduates carry a median of $15,432 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Clark College
Western Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $44,136 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,351.
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Seattle Community College North Campus landed the #6 spot for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College North Campus awarded about 23 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Seattle Community College North Campus earn around $48,739 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,643.
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Washington State University came in at #7 for physical sciences this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Washington State University awarded about 185 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $33,178 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,905 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Washington State University
Bellevue College came in at #8 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. About 22 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Bellevue College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Bellevue College earn a median of $67,771 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete this degree.
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Shoreline Community College came in at #9 for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Shoreline. There were roughly 22 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Shoreline Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Shoreline Community College generally make around $62,009. Shoreline Community College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans.
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Pacific Lutheran University landed the #10 spot for physical sciences this year. Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Pacific Lutheran University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Pacific Lutheran University generally make around $44,555. Pacific Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #11 for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 32 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Bothell Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn around $39,346 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,011.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Washington Bothell Campus
Eastern Washington University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $47,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,754.
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Green River Community College earned the #13 position for physical sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Green River Community College awarded about 44 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
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Highline Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Highline Community College awarded about 33 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Highline Community College generally make around $55,459. Typical student debt for the program is $8,958.
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Columbia Basin College earned the #15 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public university. Columbia Basin College awarded about 11 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,170 to complete this degree.
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Cascadia Community College placed #16 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Bothell, Cascadia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 23 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Cascadia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Cascadia Community College generally make around $27,352. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Cascadia Community College
Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #17 among the best physical sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 76 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College Central Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $53,048 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete this degree.
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Seattle Community College South Campus earned the #18 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 16 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College South Campus in the most recent year.
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Central Washington University landed the #19 spot for physical sciences this year. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Central Washington University awarded about 56 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $44,178 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,607 to complete this degree.
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Whitworth University earned the #20 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Whitworth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $40,568 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,873.
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Skagit Valley College came in at #21 for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 21 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Skagit Valley College in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Skagit Valley College earn a median of $44,860 early in their careers. Skagit Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans.
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South Puget Sound Community College earned the #22 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Olympia. About 25 physical sciences degrees were awarded at South Puget Sound Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from South Puget Sound Community College earn around $39,430 in the first couple years of their career. South Puget Sound Community College graduates carry a median of $14,245 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for South Puget Sound Community College
Edmonds Community College came in at #23 for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College is a large public institution. Edmonds Community College awarded about 21 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Edmonds Community College earn a median of $35,618 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,025 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Edmonds Community College
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 43 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.
