by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Biological & Physical Sciences explores Biological And Physical Sciences. A Program That Is Either A General Synthesis Of One Or More Of The Biological And Physical Sciences, Or A Specialization Which Draws From The Biological And Physical Sciences. Examples: [Astrobiology]. Continue reading for the important information every biological & physical sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biological & physical sciences programs.
In the U.S., biological & physical sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 28,033 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biological & Physical Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 310 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological & physical sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological & physical sciences programs later in this article.
Programs in Biological & Physical Sciences develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biological & physical sciences graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a biological & physical sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a biological & physical sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biological & physical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 sciences 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biological & physical sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in biological & physical sciences opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to biological & physical sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological & physical sciences.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of biological & physical sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biological & physical sciences 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 sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biological & physical sciences school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
