Biological and Physical Sciences
Offered at 343 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 9 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 183 | $33,338 | $54,219 | $9,335 |
| Bachelor's | 103 | $40,786 | $69,379 | $24,268 |
| Master's | 29 | $71,168 | $114,401 | — |
| Doctoral | 14 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 5 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical associate program in this field reports median earnings of $33,338, versus $40,786 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solano Community College | CA | $38,138 | $87,790 | — |
| 2 | Woodland Community College | CA | — | $86,583 | — |
| 3 | Modesto Junior College | CA | — | $77,723 | $9,500 |
| 4 | De Anza College | CA | — | $74,470 | — |
| 5 | Ferris State University | MI | — | $70,185 | $16,167 |
| 6 | San Diego City College | CA | — | $68,495 | — |
| 7 | Evergreen Valley College | CA | — | $68,300 | — |
| 8 | San Diego Mesa College | CA | $38,269 | $68,127 | $6,250 |
| 9 | Mission College | CA | $52,244 | $67,420 | $10,241 |
| 10 | Elgin Community College | IL | — | $66,848 | — |
| 11 | Citrus College | CA | — | $66,841 | — |
| 12 | West Valley College | CA | — | $66,214 | — |
| 13 | MiraCosta College | CA | — | $66,179 | — |
| 14 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | CA | — | $65,738 | — |
| 15 | Victor Valley College | CA | $31,938 | $63,603 | $8,942 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutgers University-Camden | NJ | $99,586 | $135,419 | — |
| 2 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $99,586 | $135,419 | — |
| 3 | Rutgers University-Newark | NJ | $99,586 | $135,419 | — |
| 4 | Keck Graduate Institute | CA | $76,437 | $114,401 | — |
| 5 | University of Rhode Island | RI | $63,854 | $70,647 | — |
| 6 | Touro University | NY | $31,594 | $69,007 | — |
| 7 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | CO | $38,471 | $66,889 | — |
| 8 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | CO | $65,899 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do biological and physical sciences graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in biological and physical sciences reports median earnings of $40,786. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
