Field of study · CIP 40.01
Physical Sciences, General
Offered at 143 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 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 90 | $38,846 | $52,564 | $9,500 |
| Bachelor's | 41 | — | $80,103 | $18,560 |
| Master's | 7 | — | — | — |
| Doctoral | 2 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 2 | — | — | — |
"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.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clark College | WA | — | $98,297 | — |
| 2 | Middlesex College | NJ | $43,689 | $68,311 | $9,866 |
| 3 | Mesa Community College | AZ | — | $67,813 | — |
| 4 | Scottsdale Community College | AZ | — | $66,246 | — |
| 5 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College | AZ | $62,904 | — | — |
| 6 | Green River College | WA | — | $62,464 | — |
| 7 | CUNY Bronx Community College | NY | — | $57,796 | — |
| 8 | CUNY Medgar Evers College | NY | $34,315 | $57,158 | $9,500 |
| 9 | Community College of Philadelphia | PA | — | $56,667 | — |
| 10 | Glendale Community College | AZ | $38,846 | $54,027 | — |
| 11 | Jackson College | MI | — | $53,518 | — |
| 12 | Tulsa Community College | OK | — | $53,161 | — |
| 13 | Phoenix College | AZ | — | $52,652 | — |
| 14 | Tacoma Community College | WA | — | $52,564 | — |
| 15 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College | NY | — | $51,329 | $9,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villanova University | PA | — | $83,400 | $23,250 |
| 2 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | NY | $55,305 | $80,103 | $10,500 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $48,598 | $65,078 | $22,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
ChemistryBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $70,989PhysicsBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $84,353Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $65,842Materials SciencesBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings —Physical Sciences, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings —Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $63,878Astronomy and AstrophysicsBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings —
