Natural Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 157 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best natural sciences schools.
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Choosing a Great Natural Sciences School
The natural sciences program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Natural Sciences Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Natural Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Xavier University tops our 2026 ranking of the best natural sciences schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 68% of students finish within six years. Xavier University awarded about 42 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $55,045 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614.
More information about a degree in natural sciences from Xavier University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best natural sciences schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,234.
Read more about the natural sciences program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural sciences, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Harvard University earn around $69,242 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $23,681 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural sciences from Harvard University
California State University Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 65 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $39,870 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural sciences program at California State University Los Angeles
Texas Christian University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural sciences, ranking #5. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. Texas Christian University awarded about 30 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Texas Christian University
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #6 among the best natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 20 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813.
Get the full natural sciences details for Virginia Commonwealth University
Logan University earned the #7 position for natural sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Chesterfield. Logan University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 23 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Logan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Logan University earn around $49,628 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
See the full natural sciences program report for Logan University
Loyola Marymount University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best natural sciences schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 40 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $33,647 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Loyola Marymount University
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #9 spot for natural sciences this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 36 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $51,693 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural sciences from Colorado State University Fort Collins
Kapiolani Community College placed #10 among the best natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Kapiolani Community College awarded about 63 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $48,210. Typical student debt for the program is $14,738.
More information about a degree in natural sciences from Kapiolani Community College
Kansas State University came in at #11 for natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $28,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Kansas State University
San Jacinto Community College landed the #12 spot for natural sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. There were roughly 504 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $38,107 in their early career. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
See the full natural sciences program report for San Jacinto Community College
Leeward Community College placed #13 among the best natural sciences schools. Leeward Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pearl City. Leeward Community College awarded about 49 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $21,784 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,068 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural sciences from Leeward Community College
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #14 spot for natural sciences this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. There were roughly 200 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $46,943 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree.
See the full natural sciences program report for Chandler Gilbert Community College
New York University earned the #15 position for natural sciences this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
See the full natural sciences program report for New York University
Hofstra University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best natural sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 13 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Hofstra University
Lee College placed #17 among the best natural sciences schools. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. There were roughly 16 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree.
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Temple University landed the #18 spot for natural sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $45,910. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Temple University
Dominican University came in at #19 for natural sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 23 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $27,081. Students borrow a median of $25,054 to complete this degree.
See the full natural sciences program report for Dominican University
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #20 for natural sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fairbanks. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 15 natural sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Alaska Fairbanks in the most recent year. Natural Sciences graduates of University Of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $50,963 early in their careers. University Of Alaska Fairbanks graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans.
Read more about the natural sciences program at University Of Alaska Fairbanks
College Of The Mainland placed #21 among the best natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. College Of The Mainland awarded about 19 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from College Of The Mainland earn around $40,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural sciences details for College Of The Mainland
Daemen College placed #22 among the best natural sciences schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Amherst. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 98 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Daemen College in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Daemen College earn around $6,394 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural sciences details for Daemen College
American Public University System placed #23 among the best natural sciences schools. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 28 natural sciences degrees were awarded at American Public University System in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $57,404 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,438.
Read more about the natural sciences program at American Public University System
Honolulu Community College earned the #24 position for natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 14 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Honolulu Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Honolulu Community College generally make around $59,006. Typical student debt for the program is $10,868.
Read more about the natural sciences program at Honolulu Community College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #25 position for natural sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. About 105 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $51,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
See the full natural sciences program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Rest of the Top 50 Natural Sciences Schools
These schools also placed among the best for natural sciences this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 157 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
