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Using science and data we decided to determine which programs offer the best career opportunities for physical sciences Majors. Here are the set of the top colleges for physical sciences Majors in US for 2021:
  1. University of California - San Diego
  2. Johns Hopkins University
  3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  4. University of California - Davis
  5. Yale University
  6. University of Miami
  7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  8. SUNY Stony Brook
  9. Colgate University
  10. Wesleyan University
If you go to one of these schools, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

25 best colleges for physical sciences majors in the US

1. University of California - San Diego

Location
La Jolla, CA
Admission rate: 30%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $48,200

2. Johns Hopkins University

Location
Baltimore, MD
Admission rate: 11%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $68,000

3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Location
Blacksburg, VA
Admission rate: 65%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $50,400

4. University of California - Davis

Location
Davis, CA
Admission rate: 41%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $45,300

5. Yale University

Location
New Haven, CT
Admission rate: 6%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $67,800

6. University of Miami

Location
Coral Gables, FL
Admission rate: 32%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $54,500

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Admission rate: 23%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $49,900

8. SUNY Stony Brook

Location
Stony Brook, NY
Admission rate: 42%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $44,000

9. Colgate University

Location
Hamilton, NY
Admission rate: 25%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $54,300

10. Wesleyan University

Location
Middletown, CT
Admission rate: 17%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $46,400

11. University of Utah

Location
Salt Lake City, UT
Admission rate: 67%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,200

12. University of Maryland - College Park

Location
College Park, MD
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $50,100

13. University of Pittsburgh

Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Admission rate: 59%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $44,300

14. Maine Maritime Academy

Location
Castine, ME
Admission rate: 55%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $82,000

15. Swarthmore College

Location
Swarthmore, PA
Admission rate: 9%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $44,500

16. Boston University

Location
Boston, MA
Admission rate: 22%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $52,800

17. North Carolina State University

Location
Raleigh, NC
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $45,000

18. College of Saint Scholastica

Location
Duluth, MN
Admission rate: 66%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $48,600

19. Florida State University

Location
Tallahassee, FL
Admission rate: 37%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $39,700

20. University of California, Berkeley

Location
Berkeley, CA
Admission rate: 15%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $57,600

21. University of Mary Washington

Location
Fredericksburg, VA
Admission rate: 72%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $40,300

22. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York

Location
New York, NY
Admission rate: 41%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $33,800

23. Trinity College

Location
Hartford, CT
Admission rate: 34%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $52,000

24. University of Southern California

Location
Los Angeles, CA
Admission rate: 13%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $61,400

25. George Mason University

Location
Fairfax, VA
Admission rate: 81%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,000

How we determined the best physical sciences colleges

We looked at the following data from the NCES (National Center For Education Statistics) and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to understand what physical sciences departments offer the best career opportunities:
  • Percentage of Graduating Class That Are Business Majors
  • Mean Earnings After 10 Years
  • Mean Earnings After 6 Years
  • Admission Rate (More selective the better)
  • Average cost of attendance (Lower is better)
  • Median amount of debt
  • Ratio of people working to not working after 10 years