2027 Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region
Physical Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physical sciences programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 52 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.
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Best Schools for Physical Sciences in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical sciences education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Physical Sciences
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 school for physical sciences. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 153 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $75,299 in their early career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for physical sciences. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 427 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $51,720 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 418 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $56,454 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,001.
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University Of Arizona is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 329 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $83,183. Students borrow a median of $23,539 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Oklahoma State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. About 89 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $50,993 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Houston came in at #6 for physical sciences this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 146 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $65,642. Typical student debt for the program is $19,222.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 132 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $52,124 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #8 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 215 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $40,686. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $22,899 in student loans.
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Austin College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Austin College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sherman. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Austin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Austin College generally make around $32,287. Austin College graduates carry a median of $24,264 in student loans.
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Arizona State University placed #10 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 283 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $36,687. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $23,035 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Arizona State University
Baylor University landed the #11 spot for physical sciences this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Lamar University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Lamar University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $52,678 in their early career. Lamar University graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans.
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Northern Arizona University landed the #13 spot for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Arizona University awarded about 119 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $41,087 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,654.
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New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #14 spot for physical sciences this year. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a small public school located in the town of Socorro. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology earn a median of $64,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,747 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #15 for physical sciences this year. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi graduates 40% of students within six years. About 43 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Corpus Christi in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi generally make around $47,130. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi graduates carry a median of $25,508 in student loans.
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Austin Community College District earned the #16 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 46 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Austin Community College District earn around $44,895 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,412 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M International University placed #17 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 14 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Texas A And M International University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $42,029. Typical student debt for the program is $15,095.
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Texas Tech University placed #18 among the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 114 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Texas Tech University earn around $40,340 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,205 to complete this degree.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #19 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. About 48 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
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Texas State University San Marcos came in at #20 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $42,233. Typical student debt for the program is $25,861.
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The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Edinburg. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. About 60 physical sciences degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $22,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from The University Of Texas Pan American
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public institution. About 52 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree.
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West Texas A And M University placed #23 among the best physical sciences schools. West Texas A And M University is a large public school located in the town of Canyon. West Texas A And M University graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at West Texas A And M University in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. West Texas A And M University graduates carry a median of $22,333 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for West Texas A And M University
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #24 for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 28 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $42,197 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,759.
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University Of North Texas landed the #25 spot for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. About 75 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $38,006 in their early career. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $22,351 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physical sciences ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 52 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.
