by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Physics involves the study of Physics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Matter And Energy, And The Formulation And Testing Of The Laws Governing The Behavior Of The Matter-Energy Continuum. Includes Instruction In Classical And Modern Physics, Electricity And Magnetism, Thermodynamics, Mechanics, Wave Properties, Nuclear Processes, Relativity And Quantum Theory, Quantitative Methods, And Laboratory Methods. Read on to learn the important information every general physics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general physics programs.
In the U.S., general physics draws strong interest, with 11,944 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Physics Schools ranking analyzes these 796 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general physics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general physics programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Physics emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general physics graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general physics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general physics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,493 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 6,710 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,981 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,760 |
People currently working in careers related to general physics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.7% |
| Master’s degree | 11.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general physics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general physics prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general physics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general physics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general physics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 general physics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 796 different general physics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general physics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general physics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, Other | 482 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 249 |
| Acoustics | 175 |
| 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.
