Physical Sciences, General Major: Graduates, International Students, Colleges and Careers

Overview

The Physical Sciences, General program encompasses a broad range of scientific disciplines that study the physical universe. This interdisciplinary field includes subjects such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, and earth sciences, providing students with a foundational understanding of the natural world and the principles governing it.

Students in this program typically engage in both theoretical and experimental approaches to science, developing strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The curriculum often covers topics like classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and chemical reactions, as well as the study of celestial bodies and geological processes. The integration of mathematics is also crucial, as it underpins many physical science concepts.

One of the key strengths of a general physical sciences program is its flexibility. Students are encouraged to explore various areas of interest, allowing them to tailor their education to their specific career goals or academic pursuits. This versatility prepares graduates for a wide range of career options, including research, education, environmental science, and engineering.

Moreover, the physical sciences play a vital role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing society today, such as climate change, energy sustainability, and technological advancement. As such, graduates of this program are well-equipped to contribute to scientific advancements and innovations that can lead to a better understanding of our world and improved solutions to global issues.

Overall, a degree in Physical Sciences, General not only provides a comprehensive scientific education but also fosters critical thinking and a passion for discovery, making it a valuable choice for aspiring scientists and researchers.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

1,216 02

928 03

1,265 04

1,343 05

1,426 06

1,570 07

1,585 08

1,697 09

1,848 10

2,612 11

3,110 12

3,356 13

3,577 14

3,679 15

3,962 16

4,118 17

4,383 18

4,527 19

4,155 20

3,822 21

3,135 22

2,735 23

2,654 24

2,972 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 144% and the international share went from 3.6% to 6.5%.

International share (%)

4 02

3 03

6 04

7 05

7 06

6 07

8 08

8 09

8 10

9 11

9 12

8 13

9 14

10 15

9 16

10 17

10 18

11 19

9 20

10 21

8 22

8 23

7 24

6 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

36.1%

Asian

12.8%

Hispanic

24.5%

Black

9.8%

Other

10.3%

Intl.

6.5%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 130 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#23	Emory University	Georgia	7	0
#27	University of Southern California	California	1	0
#34	Boston University	Massachusetts	1	0
#42	Villanova University	Pennsylvania	55	0
#59	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pennsylvania	9	0
#90	Yeshiva University	New York	1	0
#95	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	13	0
#109	University of California-Santa Cruz	California	51	0
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	55	3
#121	University of Dayton	Ohio	2	0
#137	San Diego State University	California	1	0
#137	St John's University (NY)	New York	2	0
#156	Kansas State University	Kansas	6	0
#191	Washington State University	Washington	3	1
#208	California State University--Fresno	California	10	0
#317	Marshall University	West Virginia	1	0
#328	Georgia Southern University	Georgia	15	5
#376	University of Arkansas--Little Rock	Arkansas	19	13
#382	Wright State University-Main Campus	Ohio	1	0
LAC #3	United States Naval Academy	Maryland	33	1
LAC #11	United States Air Force Academy	Colorado	2	0
LAC #14	Wesleyan University	Connecticut	16	0
LAC #142	Covenant College	Georgia	5	1
LAC #184	CUNY Medgar Evers College	New York	88	0
—	College of Southern Nevada	Nevada	371	5
—	Middlesex College	New Jersey	202	18
—	Richard Bland College	Virginia	187	5
—	Western Nevada College	Nevada	130	0
—	American River College	California	105	0
—	El Camino Community College District	California	92	2
—	Seattle Central College	Washington	64	21
—	Long Beach City College	California	54	0
—	Mesa Community College	Arizona	52	0
—	College of Staten Island CUNY	New York	51	3
—	CUNY LaGuardia Community College	New York	48	5
—	Pierce College District	Washington	47	7
—	Chandler-Gilbert Community College	Arizona	46	0
—	Bellevue College	Washington	44	19
—	Green River College	Washington	42	18
—	University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus	New Mexico	41	1
—	CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College	New York	41	5
—	Glendale Community College	Arizona	40	1
—	Utah Valley University	Utah	36	0
—	CUNY Graduate School and University Center	New York	34	1
—	South Puget Sound Community College	Washington	33	0
—	Estrella Mountain Community College	Arizona	33	0
—	Cascadia College	Washington	33	4
—	Chaffey College	California	32	0
—	University of New Mexico-Taos Campus	New Mexico	31	0
—	Edmonds College	Washington	29	13
—	Jackson College	Michigan	28	0
—	North Seattle College	Washington	27	9
—	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	Mississippi	26	0
—	Northern Oklahoma College	Oklahoma	24	0