Physical Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physical sciences programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1522 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physical sciences students pursuing a degree.
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. Duke University awarded about 46 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Duke University earn around $29,748 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,457.
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Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 65 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 100 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $74,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 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. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 98 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $81,002 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among the best physical sciences schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $79,086 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,352 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 23 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $54,260 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,279.
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Harvard University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 84 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Rice University landed the #9 spot for physical sciences this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 49 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $75,299 in their early career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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Brown University placed #10 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 78 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #11 for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 154 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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San Jose State University landed the #12 spot for physical sciences this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 35 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #13 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 57 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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Tufts University landed the #14 spot for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 43 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #15 among the best physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $50,287 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,108.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #16 for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $45,500 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $26,692 in student loans.
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Princeton University earned the #17 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $67,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #18 for physical sciences this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 183 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $71,295. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,991 in student loans.
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University Of Rochester landed the #19 spot for physical sciences this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 88 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $19,590 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware landed the #20 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 51 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $66,590. Typical student debt for the program is $25,581.
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Johns Hopkins University landed the #21 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 229 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $77,877 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,366.
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Villanova University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 76 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $77,371. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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California Institute Of Technology earned the #23 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 46 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #24 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $53,162. Typical student debt for the program is $14,194.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #25 among the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 64 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $47,718 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,062.
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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).
