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2024 Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region

16 Colleges in the Plains States Region
2,897 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$34,796 Avg Early-Career Salary
Physical Sciences isn't the most popular major in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #19 in popularity out of 38 majors in the country. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones were the best for physical sciences students pursuing a degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 2,897 degrees in physical sciences during the 2021-2022 academic year.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Physical Sciences School

Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region The physical sciences program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Physical Sciences rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for physical sciences schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Physical Sciences Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Physical Sciences
Master's Degrees in Physical Sciences
Doctor's Degrees in Physical Sciences

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Physical Sciences in the Plains States Region

If you aren't 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.

10 Top Plains States Region Schools in Physical Sciences

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
276 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$44,895 Median Starting Salary

It's hard to beat University of Minnesota - Twin Cities if you want to pursue a degree in physical sciences. UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #51 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.

There were approximately 276 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of approximately $10,099 over the typical earnings of physical sciences majors.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
135 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
4.4% Growth in Graduates

Any student who is interested in physical sciences needs to look into Iowa State University. Iowa State is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Ames. A Best Colleges rank of #75 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.

There were about 135 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences degree recipients from Iowa State University earn a boost of around $5,009 above the typical earnings of physical sciences graduates.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Iowa State University

3
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
47 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$36,149 Median Starting Salary

St Olaf College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physical sciences. Located in the town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #190 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means St. Olaf is a great college overall.

There were approximately 47 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at St. Olaf in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients generally earn an average of $36,149 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from St Olaf College

4
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
122 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$31,178 Median Starting Salary

It is hard to beat University of Iowa if you wish to pursue a degree in physical sciences. Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #84 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Iowa is a great university overall.

There were roughly 122 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent data year. After graduating, physical sciences degree recipients usually earn about $31,178 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Iowa

5
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
79 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
22.8% Growth in Graduates

Located in the distant town of Northfield, Carleton is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #93 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Carleton is a great college overall.

There were approximately 79 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Carleton in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the physical sciences program state that they receive average early career income of $25,426.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from Carleton College

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
123 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
23.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #124 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Mizzou is a great university overall.

There were about 123 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Mizzou in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the physical sciences program state that they receive average early career wages of $33,394.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Missouri - Columbia

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
98 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$33,361 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Kansas City, UMKC is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 12th out of 48 schools for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were about 98 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMKC in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the physical sciences program state that they receive average early career wages of $33,361.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Missouri - Kansas City

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
73 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
$30,771 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Duluth, UMN Duluth is a public university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 9th out of 52 schools for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.

There were roughly 73 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMN Duluth in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the physical sciences program earn around $30,771 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Minnesota - Duluth

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
41 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
34.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, UMSL is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 10th out of 48 colleges for overall quality in the state of Missouri.

There were roughly 41 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at UMSL in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physical sciences degree program at University of Missouri - St Louis get $9,448 above the standard college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Missouri - St Louis

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
109 Physical Sciences Degrees Awarded
2.8% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means KU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 109 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at KU in the most recent data year. Those physical sciences students who get their degree from University of Kansas receive $15,967 more than the average physical sciences grad.

More information about a degree in physical sciences from University of Kansas

Best Physical Sciences Colleges by State

Explore the best physical sciences colleges for a specific state in the Plains States Region .

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Kansas38322
Minnesota38891
Iowa38426
South Dakota38144
Missouri38751
Nebraska36229
North Dakota3585

View All Rankings >

Physical Sciences Majors to Study

MajorAnnual Graduates
Chemistry1,501
Physics721
Geological & Earth Sciences482
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology103
Astronomy & Astrophysics38
Materials Sciences25
General Physical Sciences17
Other Physical Science10

View All Physical Sciences Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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