Physical Sciences
Quick Facts: Physical Sciences Training
Where it's offered
Physical Sciences programs are offered at 7 schools across 4 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $24,507/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to Physical Sciences, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 7 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 32/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Physical Sciences Graduates Do
Your career in the physical sciences often begins by making science tangible for others. As a high school chemistry or physics teacher, you’ll spend your days preparing lab demonstrations with beakers and circuits, guiding students on a smartboard, and sparking their curiosity. This path provides a stable entry point with a vast number of job openings each year.
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As your expertise grows, a different trajectory opens up: management. After years developing your skills, you could become a natural sciences manager. Here, your focus shifts from the lab bench to the big picture. You’ll direct research teams, manage budgets, and set the scientific strategy for a company, making key decisions on new projects. This leadership path is growing steadily and represents a significant leap in earning potential, with experienced managers reaching top-tier salaries. AI tools might help analyze data or plan lessons, but the hands-on instruction and strategic leadership at the heart of these careers remain distinctly human.
Closely-related paths include Biological & Physical Sciences and Mathematics, which share overlapping job markets and training components.
Find Physical Sciences Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Physical Sciences is offered at 7 schools across 4 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Physical Sciences Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Physical Sciences programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
7 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex College Edison, NJ |
46 38–49 |
| 2 | Western Nevada College Carson City, NV |
46 40–49 |
| 3 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY |
43 37–46 |
| 4 | CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY |
41 34–44 |
| 5 | CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY |
39 33–42 |
| 6 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NY |
36 30–39 |
| 7 | Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA |
33 27–36 |
Highest Earning Physical Sciences Programs
Schools where Physical Sciences graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| CUNY Medgar Evers College | $27,203/yr | 41 |
| Middlesex College | $27,136/yr | 46 |
| Western Nevada College | $27,007/yr | 46 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | $26,948/yr | 43 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | $23,219/yr | 39 |
| Richard Bland College | $20,219/yr | 33 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | $19,815/yr | 36 |
Best ROI for Physical Sciences
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Physical Sciences.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex College | 64.5x | $27,136/yr | 46 |
| Western Nevada College | 48.0x | $27,007/yr | 46 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | 44.7x | $19,815/yr | 36 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | 38.3x | $26,948/yr | 43 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | 33.9x | $23,219/yr | 39 |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College | 33.8x | $27,203/yr | 41 |
| Richard Bland College | 23.5x | $20,219/yr | 33 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Physical Sciences degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.