Rankings / Bachelors
Best Bachelor's in Physical Sciences
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Choosing a college for a bachelor's degree in physical sciences can feel overwhelming. With numerous prestigious options available, students and families are diving into the details to find the best fit. This list highlights 50 schools known for strong outcomes in the physical sciences field, providing a solid foundation for future careers.
What sets these institutions apart is their focus on meaningful outcomes. Metrics like graduation rates, average earnings, and student debt play a critical role in evaluating their effectiveness. For instance, the average earnings for graduates in this ranking stand at $86,750, while the average graduation rate is 88%. Understanding these factors can help students make informed choices as they pursue their education.
Two schools that exemplify the diversity within this list are Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While Princeton graduates earn an average of $110,066 with a low net price of $6,128, MIT stands out with even higher earnings of $143,372, though it comes with a higher net price of $20,111. These differences highlight the trade-offs students must consider when selecting a program that aligns with their personal and financial goals.
Key Findings
Princeton graduates earn an average of $110,066, with 97% graduating.
MIT graduates top the list with earnings of $143,372 but face a higher net price of $20,111.
The average graduation rate across the 50 schools is 88%.
Caltech graduates earn an average of $128,566, with 94% graduating.
Quick Numbers
How We Ranked
Bachelor's programs ranked by outcomes, mobility, and program concentration in Physical Sciences
Read our full methodology →Earnings vs. Cost
Each dot is a ranked school. Up = higher earnings. Right = higher cost. Top-left is the best value.
Graduation Rates
Longer bars = higher graduation rate.
Top 3
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
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Stanford University
Stanford, CA
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
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Full Rankings
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · 5,709 students · Private nonprofit
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · 7,554 students · Private nonprofit
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · 4,535 students · Private nonprofit
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · 1,430 students · Private nonprofit
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · 987 students · Private nonprofit
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · 7,569 students · Private nonprofit
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · 7,601 students · Private nonprofit
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · 2,076 students · Private nonprofit
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · 5,693 students · Private nonprofit
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · 2,300 students · Private nonprofit
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · 1,873 students · Private nonprofit
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · 1,911 students · Private nonprofit
Rice University
Houston, TX · 4,776 students · Private nonprofit
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · 1,666 students · Private nonprofit
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · 10,650 students · Private nonprofit
Brown University
Providence, RI · 7,226 students · Private nonprofit
Yale University
New Haven, CT · 6,758 students · Private nonprofit
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · 2,086 students · Private nonprofit
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · 1,867 students · Private nonprofit
Colby College
Waterville, ME · 2,407 students · Private nonprofit
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · 7,304 students · Private nonprofit
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · 4,541 students · Private nonprofit
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · 8,973 students · Private nonprofit
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · 1,881 students · Private nonprofit
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · 995 students · Public
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · 921 students · Private nonprofit
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · 3,180 students · Private nonprofit
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · 1,613 students · Private nonprofit
Emory University
Atlanta, GA · 7,298 students · Private nonprofit
Smith College
Northampton, MA · 2,544 students · Private nonprofit
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · 1,729 students · Private nonprofit
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · 7,055 students · Public
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · 1,760 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · 16,289 students · Public
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT · 2,738 students · Private nonprofit
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · 2,757 students · Private nonprofit
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · 2,030 students · Private nonprofit
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT · 3,067 students · Private nonprofit
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY · 3,233 students · Public
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · 1,531 students · Private nonprofit
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · 3,106 students · Private nonprofit
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · 1,359 students · Private nonprofit
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · 6,331 students · Private nonprofit
Beloit College
Beloit, WI · 926 students · Private nonprofit
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · 2,014 students · Private nonprofit
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · 2,169 students · Private nonprofit
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · 2,401 students · Private nonprofit
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · 1,527 students · Public
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · 1,799 students · Private nonprofit
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · 2,444 students · Private nonprofit
Many people might overlook the stark differences between schools in this ranking. Take Stanford University and the University of Chicago, for example. Stanford graduates earn an impressive $124,080 on average, compared to the University of Chicago's $91,885. This gap of over $30,000 in earnings highlights how program reputation and connections can influence career outcomes.
Now that you've explored the list, it's essential to consider your priorities. Think about factors like location, campus culture, and specific program strengths alongside the data. For instance, if financial concerns are paramount, a school with lower net prices, like Princeton, might align better with your goals. Conversely, if career earning potential is your priority, MIT could be more appealing despite higher costs.
Ultimately, the path from college to a stable life is shaped by the decisions families make today. With the right information, you can choose a program that balances your aspirations with financial realities. One decision can set the course for a future that supports your family's goals and values.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Sources & Citations
David Krug
Co-Founder, CollegeRanker
David Krug is the co-founder of CollegeRanker and a data systems architect focused on making institutional research accessible to families. He builds the data pipelines and ranking algorithms that power CollegeRanker, drawing from federal datasets and Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights research to measure what traditional rankings ignore: whether a college actually changes a family's economic trajectory.
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