Biological and Physical Sciences Degree
Students study an integrated curriculum combining biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences, providing a broad foundation in the natural sciences. Graduates typically pursue careers in science education, laboratory research, environmental consulting, and healthcare preparation, or continue to professional programs in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy. This major is ideal for students who want a well-rounded scientific education without narrowing to a single discipline.
What Biological and Physical Sciences Graduates Do
Your degree opens two primary doors: the classroom and the laboratory. Many graduates become secondary school teachers, where your day involves more than lectures. You'll plan hands-on labs, grade assignments, and manage the dynamics of a classroom full of students. This path, while common, is currently facing slight hiring headwinds. The other route, often requiring an advanced degree, starts with hands-on research.
After years at the lab bench, you can progress into a natural sciences manager position. Here, your focus shifts from conducting experiments to leading them—you'll manage budgets, oversee project timelines, and mentor a team of scientists. This management track is the fastest-growing and highest-earning path. A career as a postsecondary teacher, combining research with university-level instruction, offers another path with steady growth.
With moderate AI exposure, these roles are changing, not disappearing. Expect AI to automate routine tasks like initial data analysis or drafting lesson plans. This frees you to focus on what matters: strategic research decisions, hands-on student mentoring, and complex problem-solving. Adaptability is key, as your value will lie in leveraging these tools effectively.
Common Career Paths
Where Biological and Physical Sciences graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 88,200 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% | |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | 13,500 | +1.8% | 0% | |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | 66,200 | -1.6% | 33% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Biological and Physical Sciences
Top 20 of 26 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ |
70 69–70 |
$69,480/yr | 26.3x |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman, WA |
57 57–58 |
$46,288/yr | 12.3x |
| 3 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY |
55 59–55 |
$36,362/yr | 23.2x |
| 4 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN |
54 54–55 |
$75,418/yr | 2.4x |
| 5 | Portland State University Portland, OR |
51 54–51 |
$37,419/yr | 13.6x |
| 6 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston, TX |
51 55–51 |
$35,952/yr | 18.7x |
| 7 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR |
50 53–51 |
$38,285/yr | 10.6x |
| 8 | Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, IN |
46 47–47 |
$41,561/yr | 11.7x |
| 9 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK |
46 52–47 |
$32,699/yr | 18.4x |
| 10 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI |
43 43–43 |
$44,525/yr | 7.0x |
| 11 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Greensburg, PA |
43 48–44 |
$34,380/yr | 10.0x |
| 12 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, PA |
43 48–44 |
$34,380/yr | 10.0x |
| 13 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN |
43 49–44 |
$31,125/yr | 14.7x |
| 14 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PA |
42 48–43 |
$25,311/yr | 14.9x |
| 15 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA |
41 45–42 |
$36,709/yr | 7.7x |
| 16 | University of Georgia Athens, GA |
40 46–41 |
$25,508/yr | 13.9x |
| 17 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA |
39 45–40 |
$34,380/yr | 6.5x |
| 18 | New College of Florida Sarasota, FL |
37 42–37 |
$32,858/yr | 10.9x |
| 19 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY |
33 36–34 |
$39,296/yr | 0.5x |
| 20 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA |
32 38–33 |
$27,555/yr | 11.6x |
Highest Earning Biological and Physical Sciences Programs
Schools where Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | $75,418/yr | 54 |
| Thomas Edison State University | $69,480/yr | 70 |
| Washington State University | $46,288/yr | 57 |
| Grand Valley State University | $44,525/yr | 43 |
| Indiana University-Kokomo | $41,561/yr | 46 |
| Bard College | $39,296/yr | 33 |
| University of Oregon | $38,285/yr | 50 |
| Portland State University | $37,419/yr | 51 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $36,709/yr | 41 |
| CUNY Hunter College | $36,362/yr | 55 |
Best ROI for Biological and Physical Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Biological and Physical Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Edison State University | 26.3x | $69,480/yr | 70 |
| CUNY Hunter College | 23.2x | $36,362/yr | 55 |
| University of Houston-Downtown | 18.7x | $35,952/yr | 51 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 18.4x | $32,699/yr | 46 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 14.9x | $25,311/yr | 42 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 14.7x | $31,125/yr | 43 |
| University of Georgia | 13.9x | $25,508/yr | 40 |
| Portland State University | 13.6x | $37,419/yr | 51 |
| Washington State University | 12.3x | $46,288/yr | 57 |
| Indiana University-Kokomo | 11.7x | $41,561/yr | 46 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Consider the Trade Route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biological and Physical Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.