Biological and Physical Sciences programs

CIP 3001 · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion

125 institutions report graduate earnings for Biological and Physical Sciences programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $53,777 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21× and 73% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 3 of the 125 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.

National ranking

#	Institution	Earn 4yr	% > threshold	Median debt	Debt/earn	Earnings premium	2 of 3 yrs
1	Rutgers University-CamdenNJ · Master's	$125,457 n=71	100% 5yr	$41,000	0.33×	Above +63%	Clears 2/2
2	Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Master's	$125,457 n=71	100% 5yr	$41,000	0.33×	Above +63%	Clears 2/2
3	Rutgers University-NewarkNJ · Master's	$125,457 n=71	100% 5yr	$41,000	0.33×	Above +63%	Clears 2/2
4	Keck Graduate InstituteCA · Master's	$117,497 n=67	96% 5yr	$57,648	0.49×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
5	University of Notre DameIN · Bachelor's	$102,801 n=22	96% 5yr	$19,000	0.18×	Above +175%	–
6	Thomas Edison State UniversityNJ · Bachelor's	$90,507 n=78	87% 5yr	$10,950	0.12×	Above +127%	Clears 2/2
7	Woodland Community CollegeCA · Associate	$89,041 n=22	–	–	–	Above +132%	–
8	San Diego City CollegeCA · Associate	$77,094 n=25	–	–	–	Above +101%	–
9	Empire State UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$71,066 n=88	95% 5yr	$24,592	0.35×	Above +87%	Clears 2/2
10	De Anza CollegeCA · Associate	$71,064 n=28	–	–	–	Above +85%	–
11	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's	$71,028 n=46	93% 5yr	$26,000	0.37×	Above +88%	Clears 2/2
12	Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$70,101 n=36	76% 5yr	$23,849	0.34×	Above +84%	Clears 2/2
13	Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO · Master's	$69,605 n=16	–	–	–	Above +3%	–
14	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
15	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
16	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
17	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
18	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
19	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
20	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
21	Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's	$69,102 n=164	73%	$25,887	0.38×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
22	Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$68,583 n=34	93% 5yr	$18,853	0.28×	Above +61%	Clears 2/2
23	Elgin Community CollegeIL · Associate	$67,323 n=51	100%	$7,360	0.11×	Above +79%	Clears 2/2
24	Copper Mountain Community CollegeCA · Associate	$66,094 n=35	–	–	–	Above +72%	–
25	San Joaquin Delta CollegeCA · Associate	$65,425 n=19	–	–	–	Above +70%	Clears 2/2
26	Santiago Canyon CollegeCA · Associate	$65,210 n=69	–	–	–	Above +70%	–
27	Bard CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$64,518 n=62	61% 1yr	$26,455	0.41×	Above +70%	–
28	Modesto Junior CollegeCA · Associate	$64,444 n=108	89% 5yr	–	–	Above +68%	Clears 2/2
29	Antelope Valley Community College DistrictCA · Associate	$63,614 n=27	–	–	–	Above +65%	–
30	CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$63,406 n=27	77% 5yr	$21,000	0.33×	Above +67%	Clears 2/2
31	San Bernardino Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$63,205 n=20	71% 5yr	–	–	Above +64%	Below 1/2
32	Indiana University-KokomoIN · Bachelor's	$63,018 n=18	76% 1yr	$21,278	0.34×	Above +68%	–
33	University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPA · Bachelor's	$62,698 n=129	90% 5yr	$23,815	0.38×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
34	University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPA · Bachelor's	$62,698 n=129	90% 5yr	$23,815	0.38×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
35	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's	$62,698 n=129	90% 5yr	$23,815	0.38×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
36	Heartland Community CollegeIL · Associate	$62,651 n=46	100%	$6,500	0.10×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
37	Moreno Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$62,331 n=48	71% 5yr	–	–	Above +62%	Clears 2/2
38	Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$61,395 n=78	87% 5yr	$24,000	0.39×	Above +61%	Clears 2/2
39	Joliet Junior CollegeIL · Associate	$60,852 n=68	–	$7,076	0.12×	Above +61%	–
40	Blue Ridge Community CollegeVA · Associate	$60,535 n=38	82% 5yr	$6,500	0.11×	Above +59%	Clears 2/2
41	University of Colorado Colorado SpringsCO · Master's	$59,825 n=45	78% 5yr	$36,790	0.61×	Below -11%	Below 2/2
42	College of the DesertCA · Associate	$59,719 n=20	62% 5yr	–	–	Above +55%	Below 1/2
43	Yuba CollegeCA · Associate	$59,650 n=62	82% 5yr	–	–	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
44	Los Angeles Pierce CollegeCA · Associate	$59,287 n=34	–	–	–	Above +54%	–
45	University of OregonOR · Bachelor's	$58,319 n=78	82% 5yr	$21,500	0.37×	Above +59%	Clears 2/2
46	Ferris State UniversityMI · Associate	$58,134 n=28	98% 5yr	$18,853	0.32×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
47	Ventura CollegeCA · Associate	$58,128 n=30	77% 5yr	–	–	Above +51%	–
48	University of GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's	$58,123 n=28	92% 5yr	$19,562	0.34×	Above +65%	Clears 2/2
49	Touro UniversityNY · Master's	$57,522 n=16	98% 5yr	$50,356	0.88×	Below -19%	–
50	Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$57,303 n=119	50%	$21,720	0.38×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
51	University of Houston-DowntownTX · Bachelor's	$56,995 n=70	59% 1yr	$21,765	0.38×	Above +59%	Clears 2/2
52	West Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$56,438 n=36	–	–	–	Above +47%	–
53	Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · Bachelor's	$56,293 n=35	82% 5yr	$17,626	0.31×	Above +61%	Clears 2/2
54	Shasta CollegeCA · Associate	$56,192 n=43	55% 1yr	$7,700	0.14×	Above +46%	–
55	Los Angeles City CollegeCA · Associate	$56,162 n=22	–	–	–	Above +46%	–
56	Sussex County Community CollegeNJ · Associate	$55,699 n=27	73% 5yr	$7,600	0.14×	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
57	University of Puget SoundWA · Bachelor's	$55,690 n=19	–	$26,629	0.48×	Above +31%	–
58	Whitworth UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$55,534 n=53	73% 5yr	$25,000	0.45×	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
59	Riverside City CollegeCA · Associate	$54,768 n=177	36%	$8,500	0.15×	Above +42%	Clears 2/2
60	City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeIL · Associate	$54,410 n=150	42% 1yr	$7,000	0.13×	Above +44%	–
61	William Rainey Harper CollegeIL · Associate	$54,379 n=200	28%	$6,375	0.12×	Above +44%	Clears 2/2
62	Crafton Hills CollegeCA · Associate	$53,835 n=19	100%	–	–	Above +40%	Clears 2/2
63	Solano Community CollegeCA · Associate	$53,777 n=31	–	–	–	Above +40%	–
64	Laurel Ridge Community CollegeVA · Associate	$53,653 n=97	88% 5yr	$7,101	0.13×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
65	Kaskaskia CollegeIL · Associate	$53,633 n=23	–	–	–	Above +42%	Below 1/2
66	Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeCA · Associate	$53,233 n=26	–	–	–	Above +38%	–
67	City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeIL · Associate	$53,058 n=245	37% 1yr	$3,500	0.07×	Above +41%	–
68	City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeIL · Associate	$52,454 n=72	57% 1yr	–	–	Above +39%	–
69	Triton CollegeIL · Associate	$52,421 n=122	56%	$7,875	0.15×	Above +39%	Clears 2/2
70	College of DuPageIL · Associate	$52,007 n=127	67% 5yr	$10,664	0.20×	Above +38%	–
71	San Diego Mesa CollegeCA · Associate	$51,936 n=59	85% 5yr	–	–	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
72	University of Alaska AnchorageAK · Bachelor's	$51,889 n=33	90% 5yr	$17,258	0.33×	Above +26%	–
73	City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeIL · Associate	$51,025 n=197	47% 1yr	$6,125	0.12×	Above +35%	–
74	Victor Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$50,905 n=180	65%	$9,500	0.19×	Above +32%	Clears 2/2
75	Lincoln Land Community CollegeIL · Associate	$50,823 n=78	95%	$10,750	0.21×	Above +35%	Below 1/2
76	Illinois Valley Community CollegeIL · Associate	$50,741 n=141	30%	$5,807	0.11×	Above +35%	Below 1/2
77	Cerritos CollegeCA · Associate	$50,527 n=40	83% 5yr	–	–	Above +31%	Clears 2/2
78	Morton CollegeIL · Associate	$50,393 n=63	62% 5yr	–	–	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
79	Chaffey CollegeCA · Associate	$50,340 n=117	–	–	–	Above +31%	–
80	Black Hawk CollegeIL · Associate	$50,172 n=51	71%	$6,000	0.12×	Above +33%	Clears 2/2
81	Santa Ana CollegeCA · Associate	$50,156 n=116	82% 5yr	–	–	Above +30%	Below 1/2
82	Waubonsee Community CollegeIL · Associate	$49,992 n=288	53%	$6,240	0.13×	Above +33%	Clears 2/2
83	McHenry County CollegeIL · Associate	$49,990 n=115	100%	$6,875	0.14×	Above +33%	Clears 2/2
84	J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeVA · Associate	$49,555 n=83	47%	$10,225	0.21×	Above +30%	Below 1/2
85	Parkland CollegeIL · Associate	$49,181 n=89	61%	$7,000	0.14×	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
86	College of Lake CountyIL · Associate	$49,153 n=86	81% 5yr	–	–	Above +30%	Clears 2/2
87	City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeIL · Associate	$49,098 n=45	–	$4,750	0.10×	Above +30%	–
88	Oakton CollegeIL · Associate	$48,644 n=17	–	–	–	Above +29%	–
89	The Evergreen State CollegeWA · Bachelor's	$48,623 n=161	55%	$20,982	0.43×	Above +14%	Below 1/2
90	Moraine Valley Community CollegeIL · Associate	$48,554 n=312	86%	$8,250	0.17×	Above +29%	Clears 2/2
91	Lake Land CollegeIL · Associate	$48,077 n=74	78%	$5,392	0.11×	Above +28%	Clears 2/2
92	Santa Rosa Junior CollegeCA · Associate	$47,743 n=20	–	–	–	Above +24%	–
93	Rock Valley CollegeIL · Associate	$47,679 n=96	57%	$6,687	0.14×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
94	Virginia Western Community CollegeVA · Associate	$47,601 n=81	44%	$6,000	0.13×	Above +25%	Below 1/2
95	City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeIL · Associate	$47,500 n=117	54% 1yr	$4,800	0.10×	Above +26%	–
96	Southwestern Illinois CollegeIL · Associate	$47,418 n=81	100%	$4,500	0.10×	Above +26%	Clears 2/2
97	City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeIL · Associate	$47,366 n=47	–	$7,550	0.16×	Above +26%	–
98	San Jacinto Community CollegeTX · Associate	$47,229 n=154	16%	$5,425	0.12×	Above +32%	Below 1/2
99	Northern Virginia Community CollegeVA · Associate	$46,956 n=192	53%	$9,875	0.21×	Above +23%	Below 1/2
100	Lewis and Clark Community CollegeIL · Associate	$46,834 n=192	62%	$6,500	0.14×	Above +24%	Below 1/2
101	Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeVA · Associate	$46,269 n=70	51%	$9,250	0.20×	Above +22%	Below 1/2
102	Kishwaukee CollegeIL · Associate	$46,128 n=189	83%	$7,992	0.17×	Above +22%	Clears 2/2
103	Tidewater Community CollegeVA · Associate	$45,557 n=264	37%	$9,259	0.20×	Above +20%	Clears 2/2
104	Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$45,272 n=28	–	–	–	Above +20%	–
105	Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$45,090 n=31	82% 5yr	$27,000	0.60×	Above +29%	Clears 2/2
106	Sauk Valley Community CollegeIL · Associate	$45,005 n=37	100%	$6,350	0.14×	Above +19%	Clears 2/2
107	South Suburban CollegeIL · Associate	$44,903 n=46	58% 5yr	–	–	Above +19%	Below 1/2
108	Norco CollegeCA · Associate	$44,674 n=45	64%	–	–	Above +16%	Clears 2/2
109	Richland Community CollegeIL · Associate	$44,259 n=30	87% 5yr	$5,250	0.12×	Above +17%	Clears 2/2
110	Imperial Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$43,842 n=34	76% 5yr	–	–	Above +14%	Clears 2/2
111	Lake Tahoe Community CollegeCA · Associate	$43,757 n=22	–	–	–	Above +14%	Below 1/2
112	John Wood Community CollegeIL · Associate	$43,445 n=26	100%	$7,186	0.17×	Above +15%	Clears 2/2
113	Hudson County Community CollegeNJ · Associate	$43,419 n=64	68% 5yr	$5,750	0.13×	Above +9%	Below 1/2
114	American River CollegeCA · Associate	$43,319 n=21	72% 5yr	–	–	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
115	Napa Valley CollegeCA · Associate	$43,305 n=38	100%	–	–	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
116	College of the RedwoodsCA · Associate	$42,531 n=20	62% 5yr	$7,900	0.19×	Above +11%	Below 1/2
117	Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictCA · Associate	$41,855 n=177	41% 1yr	–	–	Above +9%	–
118	New College of FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$41,759 n=46	–	$16,655	0.40×	Above +24%	–
119	Orange Coast CollegeCA · Associate	$41,701 n=21	72% 5yr	–	–	Above +8%	–
120	Rend Lake CollegeIL · Associate	$41,686 n=77	63% 5yr	–	–	Above +11%	–
121	Community College of Baltimore CountyMD · Associate	$41,514 n=33	–	$11,250	0.27×	Below -1%	–
122	Shawnee Community CollegeIL · Associate	$41,226 n=24	–	–	–	Above +9%	–
123	Highland Community CollegeIL · Associate	$41,202 n=36	86%	$5,170	0.13×	Above +9%	Below 1/2
124	San Jose City CollegeCA · Associate	$40,609 n=16	–	–	–	Above +6%	–
125	Los Angeles Harbor CollegeCA · Associate	$39,396 n=27	–	–	–	Above +2%	–

% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.

By state, median earnings, 4 yrs out

State	Median earn 4yr	Programs
New Jersey	$107,982	6
Pennsylvania	$69,102	13
New York	$64,518	5
Washington	$55,612	4
California	$54,302	38
Illinois	$49,167	36
Virginia	$48,578	8

States with at least 3 reporting Biological and Physical Sciences programs, by median graduate earnings.

Frequently asked

Which colleges have the highest-paying Biological and Physical Sciences programs?

By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Biological and Physical Sciences programs in this dataset are Rutgers University-Camden ($125,457), Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($125,457), Rutgers University-Newark ($125,457). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.

Are Biological and Physical Sciences programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?

Indicatively, 3 of the 125 Biological and Physical Sciences programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.