Physical Sciences: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Physical Sciences programs explore the fundamental principles governing matter, energy, and the natural universe through rigorous scientific inquiry. This interdisciplinary field emphasizes analytical thinking, experimental design, and quantitative reasoning to investigate the physical laws that shape our world.
- Physics: The study of matter, energy, motion, and forces, from subatomic particles to cosmic phenomena, grounded in mathematical modeling and empirical observation.
- Chemistry: An exploration of the composition, structure, properties, and transformations of substances, including reaction mechanisms and molecular behavior.
- Earth Sciences: Examination of Earth’s systems, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental processes, to understand planetary evolution and natural hazards.
- Astronomy and Astrophysics: Investigation of celestial objects, stellar evolution, galaxies, and the universe’s origins, often integrating observational data with theoretical frameworks.
- Materials Science: Focus on the development, characterization, and application of materials with tailored physical and chemical properties for technological innovation.
- Environmental Physics: Application of physical principles to analyze environmental systems, such as climate dynamics, energy transfer, and pollution dispersion.
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, Physical Scientists, All Other and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. 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 274,980 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 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other 19-2099 | $117,960 | $61,990 - $191,880 | 22,580 | $56.71 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
Physical Sciences Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,300 in Vermont to $152,950 in Massachusetts—a 158% difference. The highest-paying states include Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 274,980 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 27 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 Empire State University (130 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (95 graduates), University of Alabama (UAH), Huntsville (37 graduates), University of Mary Washington (UMW) (20 graduates), and University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), Greensboro (19 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 422 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
130 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
95 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| University of Mary Washington (UMW) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | Public | umw.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Black Hills State University (BHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Spearfish, South Dakota | Public | bhsu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
3 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| The College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Duluth, Minnesota | Private | css.edu |
| Eastern Oklahoma State College (EOSC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Wilburton, Oklahoma | Public | eosc.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
1 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Master's
|
1 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.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 Physical Scientists, All Other earn around $117,960. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Massachusetts average $152,950 compared to $59,300 in Vermont. Approximately 274,980 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 27 accredited institutions offer Physical Sciences degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Empire State University (130 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (95 graduates), and University of Alabama (UAH), Huntsville (37 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 decreased over the past decade, rising from 726 in 2010 to a peak of 549 in 2020, before declining slightly to 422 in 2023-24. This represents a 42% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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, Physical Scientists, All Other, and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 274,980 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.
Related Physical Sciences Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Physical Sciences field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Physics and Astronomy
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the theories that explain the fundamental structure of our world and the universe and...
Physical Sciences
A program that focuses on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena as studied in any combination of physical science...
Astronomy
A general program that focuses on the planetary, galactic, and stellar phenomena occurring in outer space. Includes instruction in celestial mechanics, cosmology, stellar...
Astrophysics
A program that focuses on the theoretical and observational study of the structure, properties, and behavior of stars, star systems and clusters, stellar...
Planetary Astronomy
A program that focuses on the scientific study of planets, small objects, and related gravitational systems. Includes instruction in the structure and composition...
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Any instructional program in astronomy and astrophysics not listed above.