by our College Data Analytics TeamBiological & Physical Science is an interdisciplinary major that combines subjects in biology and physical sciences. Physical Science involves the nonliving physical world. Some of the subjects are astronomy, chemistry, geology, physics, math, and meteorology. In contrast, biology involves the study of the living world. Combining the two subjects will allow you to apply abstract formulas and theories to real world situations to come up with concrete solutions.
Depending on the fields in which you focus, your courses will vary. However, you can expect to take biology, chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics.
A major in Biological & Physical Science explores Biological And Physical Sciences. Read on to learn the important information every biological & physical science student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biological & physical science programs.
In the U.S., biological & physical science is a widely-pursued major, with 28,033 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biological & Physical Science Schools ranking analyzes these 310 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological & physical science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological & physical science programs later in this article.
Programs in Biological & Physical Science develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biological & physical science graduates commonly enter.
This program will demand very analytical thinking. As you conduct experiments and get results, you will learn how to analyze your results with accuracy and precision. You should enjoy problem solving and experimenting. Answers will come to those with persistence in repeating tests over and over again.
You will spend a lot of time working on teams for group projects, in labs, or during a study group. You should be able to serve as a contributing team member and collaborate with your peers. Work on your writing skills so you can clearly explain your findings.
The skill set emphasized by a biological & physical science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a biological & physical science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biological & physical science 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 40 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23,421 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,352 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,126 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 94 |
People currently working in careers related to biological & physical science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 63.6% |
| Master’s degree | 8.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biological & physical science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are many career paths you can follow with a degree in Biological and Physical Science. The career you choose will depend on your focus as an undergraduate. Some may choose to continue their studies in graduate school. If you would rather go straight into a job you can find work as a lab researcher, biological technician, environmental scientist or chemist.
Studying biological & physical science prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to biological & physical science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological & physical science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of biological & physical science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,503 |
| 4 years | $45,280 |
| 5 years | $54,313 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biological & physical science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biological & physical science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
With 310 different biological & physical science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biological & physical science school rankings to help you.
Those considering biological & physical science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
| Natural Sciences | 2,648 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
