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2027 Best Physical Sciences Schools in North Carolina

14 Colleges in the United States
1,328 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$46,105 Avg Early-Career Salary

Physical Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physical sciences programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Physical Sciences in North Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Physical Sciences

1
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

No school ranked higher than Davidson College this year for physical sciences. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. About 91% of students finish within six years. Davidson College awarded about 28 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree. Get the full physical sciences details for Davidson College

2
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #2. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 130 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Duke University earn a median of $29,748 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,457. Get the full physical sciences details for Duke University

3

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 244 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $53,712 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,279 to complete this degree. Get the full physical sciences details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

4

North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #4. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 208 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $62,343. Typical student debt for the program is $21,669. See the full physical sciences program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

5
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #5. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 32 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree. See the full physical sciences program report for Wake Forest University

6

East Carolina University landed the #6 spot for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 66 physical sciences degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $47,483 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,096 to complete this degree. Get the full physical sciences details for East Carolina University

7

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $50,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,801. Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

8

Appalachian State University landed the #8 spot for physical sciences this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 124 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $50,777 early in their careers. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $23,587 in student loans. More information about a degree in physical sciences from Appalachian State University

9

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #9 spot for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 36 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans. More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

10

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #10 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 195 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $45,458 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,664 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

11

North Carolina A And T State University earned the #11 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. North Carolina A And T State University graduates 57% of students within six years. About 54 physical sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from North Carolina A And T State University earn around $50,715 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete this degree. See the full physical sciences program report for North Carolina A And T State University

12

Western Carolina University earned the #12 position for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Western Carolina University earn around $26,513 in the first couple years of their career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $20,824 in student loans. See the full physical sciences program report for Western Carolina University

13

Fayetteville State University earned the #13 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Fayetteville State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $41,449. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $27,869 in student loans. Get the full physical sciences details for Fayetteville State University

14

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #14 for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 14 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $35,579 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,766. Get the full physical sciences details for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

View All Physical Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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