ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Natural Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region

2 Colleges in the United States
1,352 Natural Sciences Degrees Awarded
$51,878 Avg Early-Career Salary

Natural Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for natural sciences students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 30.18), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Natural Sciences in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall natural sciences education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Natural Sciences

1

Leading the list is Texas Christian University, our #1 school for natural sciences. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree. Get the full natural sciences details for Texas Christian University

2

San Jacinto Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 504 natural sciences degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from San Jacinto Community College earn around $38,107 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural sciences program at San Jacinto Community College

3

Chandler Gilbert Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 200 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Chandler Gilbert Community College earn around $46,943 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447. Read more about the natural sciences program at Chandler Gilbert Community College

4
Lee College crest
Lee College
Baytown, TX

Lee College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural sciences, ranking #4. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Lee College awarded about 16 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Lee College earn around $53,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree. Get the full natural sciences details for Lee College

5
College Of The Mainland crest
College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best natural sciences schools. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. There were roughly 19 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Mainland in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. College Of The Mainland graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Read more about the natural sciences program at College Of The Mainland

6

Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #6 among the best natural sciences schools. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 105 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996. See the full natural sciences program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

7

Scottsdale Community College placed #7 among the best natural sciences schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Scottsdale Community College awarded about 23 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $48,039 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,084. More information about a degree in natural sciences from Scottsdale Community College

8

The University Of Texas At Brownsville placed #8 among the best natural sciences schools. This large public university is located in the city of Brownsville. The University Of Texas At Brownsville awarded about 14 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,058. More information about a degree in natural sciences from The University Of Texas At Brownsville

9

Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #9 position for natural sciences this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Avondale. Estrella Mountain Community College awarded about 155 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $78,359 in their early career. Estrella Mountain Community College graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. See the full natural sciences program report for Estrella Mountain Community College

10

Mesa Community College placed #10 among the best natural sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. Mesa Community College awarded about 163 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $54,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. See the full natural sciences program report for Mesa Community College

11

Rio Salado College earned the #11 position for natural sciences this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 22 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $48,564 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,679. Get the full natural sciences details for Rio Salado College

12

Paradise Valley Community College placed #12 among the best natural sciences schools. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. About 14 natural sciences degrees were awarded at Paradise Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Paradise Valley Community College earn around $71,136 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,204 to complete this degree. Get the full natural sciences details for Paradise Valley Community College

13

Gateway Community College Phoenix came in at #13 for natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public institution. Gateway Community College Phoenix awarded about 15 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Gateway Community College Phoenix earn around $50,350 in the first couple years of their career. Gateway Community College Phoenix graduates carry a median of $15,736 in student loans. See the full natural sciences program report for Gateway Community College Phoenix

14

South Mountain Community College came in at #14 for natural sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Phoenix. There were roughly 25 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at South Mountain Community College in the most recent data year. Read more about the natural sciences program at South Mountain Community College

15
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College came in at #15 for natural sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of Phoenix. Phoenix College awarded about 35 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $51,053 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,204. More information about a degree in natural sciences from Phoenix College

16

Mohave Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best natural sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Kingman. Mohave Community College awarded about 12 natural sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural sciences degree from Mohave Community College earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Mohave Community College graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. Get the full natural sciences details for Mohave Community College

Narrow Natural Sciences Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All Natural Sciences Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options