Physical Sciences: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Physical Sciences is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to exploring the fundamental principles governing the natural world through rigorous scientific inquiry. This program provides a comprehensive foundation in the core domains of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and earth sciences, emphasizing the interconnected nature of physical phenomena across scales and systems.
- Physics: The study of matter, energy, motion, and forces, including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum theory, to understand the laws that govern the universe at both macroscopic and subatomic levels.
- Chemistry: An exploration of the composition, structure, properties, and transformations of matter, covering areas such as organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry to explain molecular behavior and chemical reactions.
- Astronomy: The scientific investigation of celestial objects, phenomena, and the universe as a whole, including stellar evolution, planetary systems, cosmology, and the application of observational and theoretical models to interpret cosmic events.
- Earth Sciences: A multidisciplinary approach to understanding the Earth's physical systems, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental processes, with focus on natural resources, climate dynamics, and geological hazards.
Physical Sciences Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Physical Sciences Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Physical Sciences degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,173,410 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
Physical Sciences Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,340 in Louisiana to $153,895 in Massachusetts—a 159% difference. The highest-paying states include Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,173,410 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Physical Sciences by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Physical Sciences programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Physical Sciences is found at Middlesex College (MCC) (169 graduates), Richard Bland College (RBC) (151 graduates), Western Nevada College (WNC) (136 graduates), Tulsa Community College (TCC) (121 graduates), and American River College (ARC) (116 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,615 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
169 | Edison, New Jersey | Public | middlesexcollege.edu |
| Richard Bland College (RBC) |
Associate's
|
151 | South Prince George, Virginia | Public | rbc.edu |
| Western Nevada College (WNC) |
Associate's
|
136 | Carson City, Nevada | Public | wnc.edu |
| Tulsa Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
121 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsacc.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
|
116 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College (MEC) |
Associate's
|
111 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | mec.cuny.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Associate's
|
86 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Associate's
|
77 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Seattle Central College |
Associate's
|
76 | Seattle, Washington | Public | seattlecentral.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
66 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
54 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
51 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
46 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Bachelor's
|
44 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Green River College (GRC) |
Associate's
|
44 | Auburn, Washington | Public | greenriver.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
43 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Associate's
|
41 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Associate's
|
39 | Gallup, New Mexico | Public | gallup.unm.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
38 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Associate's
|
37 | Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico | Public | taos.unm.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Associate's
|
37 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Jackson College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Jackson, Michigan | Public | jccmi.edu |
| Highline College |
Associate's
|
33 | Des Moines, Washington | Public | highline.edu |
| Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
33 | Avondale, Arizona | Public | estrellamountain.edu |
| Clark College |
Associate's
|
32 | Vancouver, Washington | Public | clark.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Associate's
|
30 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Bronx, New York | Public | bcc.cuny.edu |
| South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Olympia, Washington | Public | spscc.edu |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College (QCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Bayside, New York | Public | qcc.cuny.edu |
| United States Naval Academy (USNA) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Annapolis, Maryland | Public | usna.edu |
| North Seattle College (NSC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Seattle, Washington | Public | northseattle.edu |
| Cascadia College |
Associate's
|
23 | Bothell, Washington | Public | cascadia.edu |
| Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Tonkawa, Oklahoma | Public | noc.edu |
| Bellevue College (BC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
| Shoreline Community College |
Associate's
|
22 | Shoreline, Washington | Public | shoreline.edu |
| Chadron State College (CSC) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Chadron, Nebraska | Public | csc.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Associate's
|
21 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
|
21 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Skagit Valley College (SVC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Mount Vernon, Washington | Public | skagit.edu |
| North Central Michigan College (NCMC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Petoskey, Michigan | Public | ncmich.edu |
| Reading Area Community College (RACC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Public | racc.edu |
| Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | paradisevalley.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Associate's
|
19 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| Clovis Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Fresno, California | Public | cloviscollege.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
|
16 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| South Seattle College (SSC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Seattle, Washington | Public | southseattle.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
Master's
|
13 | Monterey, California | Public | nps.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Associate's
|
11 | Los Lunas, New Mexico | Public | valencia.unm.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Columbia Basin College (CBC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Pasco, Washington | Public | columbiabasin.edu |
| South Mountain Community College (SMCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | southmountaincc.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College |
Associate's
|
10 | New York, New York | Public | guttman.cuny.edu |
| Tacoma Community College (TCC ) |
Associate's
|
9 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacomacc.edu |
| Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Wenatchee, Washington | Public | wvc.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Covenant College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Lookout Mountain, Georgia | Private | covenant.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Master's
|
8 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Herkimer County Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | Herkimer, New York | Public | herkimer.edu |
| Yakima Valley College (YVC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Yakima, Washington | Public | yvcc.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
7 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | Public | mc3.edu |
| Grays Harbor College (GHC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Aberdeen, Washington | Public | ghc.edu |
| Whatcom Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | whatcom.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Celina, Ohio | Public | lake.wright.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Compton College |
Associate's
|
5 | Compton, California | Public | compton.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Gardner, Massachusetts | Public | mwcc.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Associate's
|
5 | Los Alamos, New Mexico | Public | losalamos.unm.edu |
| Olympic College (OC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Bremerton, Washington | Public | olympic.edu |
| Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Walla Walla, Washington | Public | wwcc.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| Vanguard University of Southern California |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Costa Mesa, California | Private | vanguard.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
4 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Big Bend Community College (BBCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Moses Lake, Washington | Public | bigbend.edu |
| Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
| Citrus College |
Associate's
|
3 | Glendora, California | Public | citruscollege.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| San Juan College (SJC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Farmington, New Mexico | Public | sanjuancollege.edu |
| Lincoln University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania | Public | lincoln.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| Carroll Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Westminster, Maryland | Public | carrollcc.edu |
| Feather River Community College District |
Associate's
|
2 | Quincy, California | Public | frc.edu |
| Sonoma State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Rohnert Park, California | Public | sonoma.edu |
| Taft College |
Associate's
|
2 | Taft, California | Public | taftcollege.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Westfield State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Westfield, Massachusetts | Public | westfield.ma.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Physical Sciences programs
How much can I earn with a Physical Sciences degree?
Salaries for Physical Sciences graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $64,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Massachusetts average $153,895 compared to $59,340 in Louisiana. Approximately 1,173,410 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Physical Sciences programs?
Currently 135 accredited institutions offer Physical Sciences degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Middlesex College (MCC) (169 graduates), Richard Bland College (RBC) (151 graduates), and Western Nevada College (WNC) (136 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Physical Sciences growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,879 in 2010 to a peak of 4,159 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,661 in 2023-24. This represents a 42% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Physical Sciences degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, . Related occupations employ approximately 1,173,410 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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