by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Other Physical Science involves the study of Physical Sciences, Other. Any Instructional Program In Physical Sciences Not Listed Above. Continue reading for the important information every other physical science major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other physical science programs.
In the U.S., other physical science draws strong interest, with 422 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Physical Science Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other physical science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other physical science programs later in this article.
Programs in Other Physical Science build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other physical science graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a other physical science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a other physical science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 202 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 144 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 53 |
People currently working in careers related to other physical science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.7% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other physical science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in other physical science opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to other physical science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other physical science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 188,913 | 7.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 88,872 | 5.3% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of other physical science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,639 |
| 4 years | $42,690 |
| 5 years | $55,658 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other physical science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other 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 |
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | $73,261 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $72,607 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
With 27 different other physical science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other physical science school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
