Compare 10 Natural Sciences. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $56,582. Top programs: $95,507+.
The highest-earning Natural Sciences program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $59K earnings gap across 10 programs—from $36K to $96K—the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Daemen University, a small private school in Amherst, NY, outranks dozens of better-known institutions on graduate earnings alone.
Harvard University's Natural Sciences program leads with graduates earning $95,507—well above the $56,582 average across all 10 ranked programs. But the more instructive data point is Daemen University at #2: graduates earning $76,980 from a school with a 68% acceptance rate. Strong outcomes don't require selective admissions. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden does. Harvard Natural Sciences graduates carry just $14,000 in student debt and face a 2.6% payment burden, rating 'Excellent' on the GPS affordability scale. Daemen University isn't far behind: a 5.6% burden on $22,091 in student debt, also 'Excellent.' Meanwhile, graduates of programs like Christian Brothers University face a 26.7% burden—a significant financial strain on $36,429 in earnings.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $95,507 | 35 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Good |
| #2 | Daemen UniversityPrivate | $76,980 | 100 | $22,091 | Excellent | $19,290 | Good |
| #3 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $68,243 | 67 | $21,250 | Excellent | $27,283 | Manageable |
| #4 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | $56,555 | 30 | $24,411 | Good | $19,865 | Challenging |
| #5 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $56,124 | 44 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High |
| #6 | $55,102 | 6 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Temple UniversityPublic | $42,682 | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| #8 | $39,870 | 68 | — | — | — | — | |
| #9 | $38,323 | 27 | $27,000 | Challenging | $13,773 | High | |
| #10 | $36,429 | 20 | $27,000 | High | $20,923 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
