2027 Best Physical Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
Physical Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best physical sciences schools.
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Best Schools for Physical Sciences in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical sciences education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Physical Sciences
Leading the list is Washington University In St Louis, our #1 school for physical sciences. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 140 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent 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. Students borrow a median of $17,360 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Washington University In St Louis
A rank of #2 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the top schools for physical sciences. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $65,599 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete this degree.
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Drake University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 14 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $56,228 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Drake University
Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Grinnell College, which ranked #5. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. Grinnell College graduates 88% of students within six years. About 33 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Grinnell College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Grinnell College earn a median of $38,888 early in their careers. Grinnell College graduates carry a median of $17,154 in student loans.
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Carleton College placed #6 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 83 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Carleton College in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $40,371 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Luther College earned the #7 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 12 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Luther College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Luther College earn around $42,426 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,967 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #8 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 274 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $48,809 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,062 to complete this degree.
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Macalester College placed #9 among the best physical sciences schools. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Macalester College awarded about 47 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,147.
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Kansas State University placed #10 among the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. Typical student debt for the program is $14,138.
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The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #11 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The College Of Saint Scholastica graduates 70% of students within six years. About 14 physical sciences degrees were awarded at The College Of Saint Scholastica in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from The College Of Saint Scholastica generally make around $60,431. Students borrow a median of $26,755 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #12 for physical sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,783.
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Bethel University Minnesota came in at #13 for physical sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 26 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $61,465. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete this degree.
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St Olaf College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 physical sciences degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $44,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,486.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #15 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 72 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $44,674. Typical student debt for the program is $23,952.
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University Of Nebraska At Kearney came in at #16 for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 16 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $46,744 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,173.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for physical sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 physical sciences degrees were awarded at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $54,076. Typical student debt for the program is $25,153.
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Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 49 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $47,352 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia placed #19 among the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 146 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $44,794 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,655.
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Wayne State College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Wayne State College awarded about 17 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $46,646. Typical student debt for the program is $22,974.
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University Of Kansas landed the #21 spot for physical sciences this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 110 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Kansas earn around $41,626 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Chadron State College came in at #22 for physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chadron State College awarded about 18 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Chadron State College earn a median of $47,254 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,912.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Chadron State College
University Of Iowa landed the #23 spot for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 140 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Iowa earn around $44,847 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,956.
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Pittsburg State University placed #24 among the best physical sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pittsburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $22,669 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #25 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 93 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $47,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 39 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 · 39 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.