Physical Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1522 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for physical sciences. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 123 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $68,215 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 106 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 45 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $90,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full physical sciences program report for Northwestern University
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 61 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Southern California
Rice University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 52 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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Georgetown University earned the #6 position for physical sciences this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 24 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 44 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Vanderbilt University
Washington University In St Louis landed the #8 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Students borrow a median of $17,360 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Washington University In St Louis
San Jose State University earned the #9 position for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 67 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from San Jose State University
Brown University earned the #10 position for physical sciences this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
See the full physical sciences program report for Brown University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 332 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Harvard University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 112 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $95,207 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Tufts University placed #13 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $68,154 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
See the full physical sciences program report for Tufts University
Dartmouth College earned the #14 position for physical sciences this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $81,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 108 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $78,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,366 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Johns Hopkins University
California Institute Of Technology landed the #16 spot for physical sciences this year. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. California Institute Of Technology graduates 94% of students within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 34 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full physical sciences program report for California Institute Of Technology
Princeton University came in at #17 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 67 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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University Of Rochester came in at #18 for physical sciences this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,590 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University earned the #19 position for physical sciences this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
See the full physical sciences program report for Marquette University
University Of Notre Dame placed #20 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. About 46 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $84,652 early in their careers. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Notre Dame
Middlebury College earned the #21 position for physical sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 28 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Middlebury College earn around $54,713 in the first couple years of their career. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for Middlebury College
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #22 for physical sciences this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $72,717 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #23 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 295 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $56,678 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,352 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of California Berkeley
Amherst College came in at #24 for physical sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $59,271 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398.
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University Of Chicago ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 135 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of Chicago
Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong physical sciences education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1522 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
