by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Condensed Matter & Materials Physics explores Condensed Matter And Materials Physics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Macroscopic Physical Phenomena And Properties That Arise From Basic Microscopic Interactions. Includes Instruction In Low-Temperature And Solid-State Physics, X-Ray Physics, Liquids And Soft Materials, Including The Study Of Semiconductors, Metals, Superliquids, Magnets, Superconductors, Glasses, Gels, Polymers, Colloids, Neural Networks, And Macromolecules. Read on to learn the essential details every condensed matter & materials physics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering condensed matter & materials physics programs.
Across the country, condensed matter & materials physics is a widely-pursued major, with 8 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Condensed Matter & Materials Physics Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for condensed matter & materials physics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of condensed matter & materials physics programs later in this article.
Studies in Condensed Matter & Materials Physics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations condensed matter & materials physics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a condensed matter & materials physics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a condensed matter & materials physics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several condensed matter & materials physics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to condensed matter & materials physics 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in condensed matter & materials physics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying condensed matter & materials physics can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to condensed matter & materials physics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to condensed matter & materials physics.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of condensed matter & materials physics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 condensed matter & materials physics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers condensed matter & materials physics 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 2 different condensed matter & materials physics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased condensed matter & materials physics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in condensed matter & materials physics, 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 |
| Acoustics | 175 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 6 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 6 |
| Nuclear Physics | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
