Physical Sciences programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $24,908 to $143,372. Across 221 programs, the variation in median earnings demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories in physics, chemistry, and related fields.
Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, achieving the highest program earnings at $166,156. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute follows at $88,071, while University Of Notre Dame rounds out the top tier at $87,137, demonstrating how top-performing programs deliver exceptional graduate outcomes.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cambridge, MA | $166,156 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | -$4,129 | 4.7% | 96.1% | |
| #2 | Troy, NY | $88,071 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $21,009 | 58.5% | 83.2% | |
| #3 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | Notre Dame, IN | $87,137 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $8,873 | 12.4% | 96.8% |
| #4 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $82,654 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $5,900 | 5.7% | 90.4% |
| #5 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $81,076 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | -$1,428 | 4.8% | 94.9% |
| #6 | Buckhannon, WV | $80,917 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $12,553 | 95.0% | 49.5% | |
| #7 | Atlanta, GA | $80,433 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $7,491 | 16.5% | 92.3% | |
| #8 | New Brunswick, NJ | $76,753 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $15,885 | 65.3% | 85.0% | |
| #9 | Kalamazoo CollegePrivate | Kalamazoo, MI | $75,833 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $14,732 | 76.2% | 81.7% |
| #10 | Keene State CollegePublic | Keene, NH | $73,792 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $11,111 | 89.1% | 58.4% |
| #11 | Butler UniversityPrivate | Indianapolis, IN | $73,619 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $28,607 | 85.9% | 80.2% |
| #12 | Rowan UniversityPublic | Glassboro, NJ | $72,508 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $15,180 | 77.8% | 68.3% |
| #13 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | Provo, UT | $71,547 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $9,531 | 69.2% | 82.2% |
| #14 | Florence, AL | $70,485 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $8,309 | 96.5% | 54.0% | |
| #15 | University Of ArizonaPublic | Tucson, AZ | $70,471 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $12,043 | 85.7% | 65.9% |
| #16 | San Francisco, CA | $69,237 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $9,307 | 96.2% | 50.1% | |
| #17 | Denver, CO | $69,203 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $16,135 | 77.8% | 47.4% | |
| #18 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | Vestal, NY | $69,083 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $12,916 | 37.7% | 83.7% |
| #19 | Boston CollegePrivate | Chestnut Hill, MA | $68,817 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $5,851 | 15.7% | 91.0% |
| #20 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,812 Median Physical Sciences Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% |
