Compare 48 Biological and Physical Sciences. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $42,586.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Biological and Physical Sciences tells a different story. Across 49 programs in the Midwest, earnings range from $42,994 to $84,867—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Biological and Physical Sciences program leads with graduates earning $84,867, nearly double the regional average of $42,286. But the story extends beyond Ann Arbor—Baldwin Wallace University ($57,467) and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($56,840) demonstrate that strong outcomes aren't confined to prestigious institutions.
Highest program earnings: $84,867
Strong outcomes ($57,467) with 77% acceptance
4.3% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
11.9% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $84,867 | 47 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #2 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityPrivate | $57,467 | 14 | $27,000 | Good | $31,484 | Challenging |
| #3 | $56,840 | 447 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #4 | University Of IowaPublic | $55,833 | 135 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | Challenging |
| #5 | $54,593 | 34 | $20,500 | Good | $11,092 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $53,724 | 36 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $53,533 | 27 | $25,000 | Good | $12,953 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $52,013 | 11 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #9 | $51,733 | 72 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | |
| #10 | $51,691 | 15 | $18,442 | Good | $10,030 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $51,456 | 92 | $21,250 | Good | $23,602 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $47,708 | 18 | $20,000 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $46,350 | 50 | $19,968 | Good | $11,334 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $44,842 | 12 | $19,976 | Manageable | $25,868 | High | |
| #15 | $44,389 | 137 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | High | |
| #16 | $44,070 | 109 | $21,058 | Manageable | $11,598 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $43,717 | 33 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,316 | High |
| #18 | $43,641 | 47 | $22,500 | Manageable | $12,006 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $43,424 | 36 | $23,199 | Manageable | $14,621 | High | |
| #20 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $42,994 | 21 | $23,000 | Manageable | $34,512 | High |
| #21 | $42,954 | 49 | $23,250 | Manageable | $37,401 | High | |
| #22 | National Louis UniversityPrivate | $42,929 | 94 | $19,750 | Manageable | $17,284 | High |
| #23 | $41,565 | 16 | $21,543 | Manageable | $19,500 | High | |
| #24 | $41,561 | 12 | $16,961 | Manageable | $11,210 | Challenging | |
| #25 | $41,176 | 222 | $26,188 | Challenging | $22,488 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
