Biological and Physical Sciences: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn a median $58,891 four years after finishing — $10,531/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 6.4 years. Federal data pools 135 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 2,446 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $102,801 |
| 2 | Thomas Edison State University | NJ | $90,507 |
| 3 | Empire State University | NY | $71,066 |
| 4 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | PA | $71,028 |
| 5 | Fordham University | NY | $70,101 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $69,102 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | PA | $69,102 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | PA | $69,102 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | PA | $69,102 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | PA | $69,102 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks | PA | $69,102 |
| 12 | Washington State University | WA | $68,583 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.