by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the early-career earnings of their natural sciences graduates.
What’s on this page:
Where you study natural sciences affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Natural Sciences Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose natural sciences degrees pay off the most.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Natural Sciences Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose natural sciences graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Kapiolani Community College the top school for natural sciences graduate earnings in the United States. Kapiolani Community College is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,330.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,915.
A rank of #3 makes Leeward Community College one of the highest-paying schools for natural sciences. Leeward Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Pearl City. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,547.
A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the highest-paying schools for natural sciences. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Early-career natural sciences graduates from Harvard University make a median of around $69,242 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in natural sciences will find them at Estrella Mountain Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College typically earn about $58,832 annually.
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Felician College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Lodi, Felician College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural sciences graduates from Felician College make a median of around $67,733 per year.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural sciences schools. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $89,101 annually.
Temple University came in at #8 for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $57,150 annually.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #9 position for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public school located in the suburb of Glendale. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az typically earn about $53,855 annually.
Kansas State University earned the #10 position for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Natural Sciences graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of about $65,682 a year early in their careers.
Dominican University earned the #11 position for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Early-career natural sciences graduates from Dominican University make a median of around $64,442 per year.
Phoenix College earned the #12 position for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public institution. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,626.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #13 for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,870.
Christian Brothers University came in at #14 for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Sciences graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of about $44,471 a year early in their careers.
Daemen College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for natural sciences. Located in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Sciences graduates of Daemen College earn a median of about $70,353 a year early in their careers.
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural sciences schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a public institution. Natural Sciences graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of about $49,029 a year early in their careers.
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for natural sciences. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology typically earn about $45,500 annually.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro came in at #18 for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Sciences graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro earn a median of about $30,631 a year early in their careers.
Bossier Parish Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a public institution. After graduating, natural sciences degree recipients from Bossier Parish Community College typically earn about $33,996 annually.
Mesa Community College landed the #20 spot for natural sciences salaries this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,826.
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey earned the #21 position for natural sciences graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cayey, University Of Puerto Rico Cayey is a public institution. Students who complete the natural sciences program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,621.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their natural sciences graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 21 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.