by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Acoustics covers Acoustics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Sound, And The Properties And Behavior Of Acoustic Wave Phenomena Under Different Conditions. Includes Instruction In Wave Theory, The Acoustic Wave Equation, Energy Transformation, Vibration Phenomena, Sound Reflection And Transmission, Scattering And Surface Wave Phenomena, Singularity Expansion Theory, Ducting, And Applications To Specific Research Problems Such As Underwater Acoustics, Crystallography, And Health Diagnostics. Continue reading for the important information every acoustics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering acoustics programs.
Nationwide, acoustics is a widely-pursued major, with 175 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Acoustics Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for acoustics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of acoustics programs later in this article.
Programs in Acoustics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations acoustics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a acoustics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a acoustics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several acoustics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 95 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 73 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to acoustics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.0% |
| Master’s degree | 14.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in acoustics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying acoustics opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to acoustics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to acoustics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Physicists | 118,738 | 8.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of acoustics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,456 |
| 4 years | $75,002 |
| 5 years | $86,291 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for acoustics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers acoustics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
With 6 different acoustics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased acoustics school rankings to help you.
Students interested in acoustics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, General | 11,944 |
| Physics, Other | 482 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 249 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 8 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 6 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 6 |
| Nuclear Physics | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
