Biological and Physical Sciences programs
CIP 3001 · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
41 institutions report graduate earnings for Biological and Physical Sciences programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $63,406 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38× and 82% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 2 of the 41 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.
| # | 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 | Empire State UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $71,066 n=88 | 95% 5yr | $24,592 | 0.35× | Above +87% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $71,028 n=46 | 93% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.37× | Above +88% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $70,101 n=36 | 76% 5yr | $23,849 | 0.34× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO · Master's | $69,605 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +3% | — |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's | $69,102 n=164 | 73% | $25,887 | 0.38× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $68,583 n=34 | 93% 5yr | $18,853 | 0.28× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Bard CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $64,518 n=62 | 61% 1yr | $26,455 | 0.41× | Above +70% | — |
| 21 | CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $63,406 n=27 | 76% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.33× | Above +67% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Indiana University-KokomoIN · Bachelor's | $63,018 n=18 | 76% 1yr | $21,278 | 0.34× | Above +68% | — |
| 23 | University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgPA · Bachelor's | $62,698 n=129 | 90% 5yr | $23,815 | 0.38× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownPA · Bachelor's | $62,698 n=129 | 90% 5yr | $23,815 | 0.38× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's | $62,698 n=129 | 90% 5yr | $23,815 | 0.38× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $61,395 n=78 | 87% 5yr | $24,000 | 0.39× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsCO · Master's | $59,825 n=45 | 78% 5yr | $36,790 | 0.61× | Below -11% | Below 2/2 |
| 28 | University of OregonOR · Bachelor's | $58,319 n=78 | 82% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.37× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Ferris State UniversityMI · Associate | $58,134 n=28 | 98% 5yr | $18,853 | 0.32× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's | $58,123 n=28 | 92% 5yr | $19,562 | 0.34× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Touro UniversityNY · Master's | $57,522 n=16 | 98% 5yr | $50,356 | 0.88× | Below -19% | — |
| 32 | Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $57,303 n=119 | 50% | $21,720 | 0.38× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | University of Houston-DowntownTX · Bachelor's | $56,995 n=70 | 59% 1yr | $21,765 | 0.38× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $56,293 n=35 | 82% 5yr | $17,626 | 0.31× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | University of Puget SoundWA · Bachelor's | $55,690 n=19 | — | $26,629 | 0.48× | Above +31% | — |
| 36 | Whitworth UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $55,534 n=53 | 72% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.45× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | University of Alaska AnchorageAK · Bachelor's | $51,889 n=33 | 90% 5yr | $17,258 | 0.33× | Above +26% | — |
| 38 | The Evergreen State CollegeWA · Bachelor's | $48,623 n=161 | 55% | $20,982 | 0.43× | Above +14% | Below 1/2 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $45,272 n=28 | — | — | — | Above +20% | — |
| 40 | Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $45,090 n=31 | 82% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.60× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | New College of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $41,759 n=46 | — | $16,655 | 0.40× | Above +24% | — |
% > 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.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $125,457 | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,102 | 13 |
| New York | $64,518 | 5 |
| Washington | $55,612 | 4 |
States with at least 3 reporting Biological and Physical Sciences programs, by median graduate earnings.
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, 2 of the 41 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.