by our College Data Analytics TeamMilitary Applied Science is major that prepared students to work in the United States Armed Forces. This is a broad major that appeals to students with many different interests. There a variety of concentrations available within this major.
Students will complete practical military training in addition to their classes. Students will be expected to learn how to shoot a rifle, complete obstacle courses, rappel, and develop other physical fitness skills. Other aspects of the major include engineering, building and maintaining weapon control systems, computer programming and strategic planning. Some students will also have the ability to learn about lasers and concentrated energy to make weapons.
Courses you will take are ethics, military law, American history, leadership skills, strategy, politics, logistics, field training, chemistry, computer science, computer programming, engineering, and management skills.
There are a lot of opportunities to specialize in this major. Some of the most popular concentrations are Combat Systems Engineering, Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology, Air and Space Operations Technology, Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, and Munitions Systems / Ordnance Technology.
A major in Military Applied Sciences involves the study of Military Applied Sciences. Read on to learn the important information every military applied sciences major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering military applied sciences programs.
Across the country, military applied sciences draws strong interest, with 383 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Military Applied Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for military applied sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of military applied sciences programs later in this article.
Programs in Military Applied Sciences emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations military applied sciences graduates commonly enter.
This major does an excellent job of teaching you skills that apply in the military and in the classroom. Students will need great organizational and time management skills to complete all their tasks in a timely fashion. You should be able to work confidently and calmly under pressure.
Students will need communication and team work skills, as well as the ability to step into the leadership position. Training will involve a lot of team and group work. Learn to lean on your peers for support and help.
Your academic work will involve working with advanced technology, math, and sciences. You should be able to think analytically and critically. Determination will also be important as you work with difficult theories and problems.
The skill set emphasized by a military applied sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a military applied sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several military applied sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 135 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 240 |
People currently working in careers related to military applied sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.9% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Master’s degree | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in military applied sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A Bachelor's degree in Applied Military Science prepares you or a career in the armed forces where you have the ability to advance through the ranks to become an officer. If you attend a military academy or join ROTC, you will be committing to a certain number of years in the military. Upon retiring from the military, graduates can use their practical skills in a variety of careers, finding work as teachers, researchers, managers or technicians.
Majoring in military applied sciences prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to military applied sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to military applied sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
| Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders, All Other | 41,278 | 0.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of military applied sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $89,751 |
| 5 years | $58,787 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for military applied sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers military applied sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders, All Other | $60,551 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
With 11 different military applied sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased military applied sciences school rankings to help you.
Students interested in military applied sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Military Applied Sciences, Other | 143 |
| Space Systems Operations | 127 |
| Combat Systems Engineering | 43 |
| Undersea Warfare | 40 |
| Engineering Acoustics | 17 |
| Operational Oceanography | 13 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 4,051 |
| Military Systems and Maintenance Technology | 207 |
| Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | 144 |
| Military Technology and Applied Sciences Management | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
