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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 316 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.
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Best Schools for Physical Sciences in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for physical sciences. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 82 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Vanderbilt University
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #2. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 116 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.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Duke University
Davidson College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #3. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. About 91% of students finish within six years. Davidson College awarded about 39 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Davidson College
Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #4. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 183 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Rhodes College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical sciences, ranking #5. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Rhodes College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $40,807. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $23,078 in student loans.
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University Of Miami placed #6 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 97 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Miami earn around $57,234 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of Miami
Furman University earned the #7 position for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 36 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Furman University in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Furman University
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #8 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 256 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $30,599 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,425 in student loans.
See the full physical sciences program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
College Of William And Mary earned the #9 position for physical sciences this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. About 117 physical sciences degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $35,130 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,705 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for College Of William And Mary
Wofford College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 21 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wofford College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $41,052 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,643 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Wofford College
Centre College earned the #11 position for physical sciences this year. Located in the town of Danville, Centre College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Centre College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Centre College generally make around $32,327. Students borrow a median of $26,560 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Centre College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 221 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 $53,734 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,279 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #13 for physical sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 179 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $42,218 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,322 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 205 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $63,861 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,669 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Central Florida came in at #15 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. About 131 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,586 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $19,063 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Central Florida
Auburn University earned the #16 position for physical sciences this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 82 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $45,588 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,511.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Auburn University
Randolph Macon College landed the #17 spot for physical sciences this year. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Randolph Macon College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Randolph Macon College in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of $40,317 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,432.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Randolph Macon College
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Huntsville. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 98 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $62,903 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 43 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Physical Sciences graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $54,082 early in their careers. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Tulane University Of Louisiana
University Of Florida ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 347 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Florida earn around $53,651 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 45 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Wake Forest University
James Madison University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 70 physical sciences degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from James Madison University earn around $46,310 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,422.
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Longwood University placed #23 among the best physical sciences schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Farmville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 15 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Longwood University earn around $43,800 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,649 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for Longwood University
Nova Southeastern University came in at #24 for physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Nova Southeastern University awarded about 12 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $70,595 in their early career. Nova Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Nova Southeastern University
Clemson University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best physical sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,834. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Clemson University
Rest of the Top 50 Physical Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong physical sciences education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 316 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).
