by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, acoustics was the 984th most popular major nationwide with 96 degrees awarded. This represents a 28.1% reduction in acoustics degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 123.
This year's Best Acoustics Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom acoustics rankings further below.
A major in acoustics prepares you for careers in which using scientific rules and methods to solve problems is crucial. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and talking to others to convey information effectively.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most acoustics degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic acoustics program qualifications, to serve in some acoustics careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different acoustics degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in acoustics to something that takes less time like a . Different acoustics degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to acoustics, with approximately 34.3% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for acoustics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 39.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 18.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 16.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.5% |
About 53.2% of workers in careers related to acoustics obtain at least doctor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in acoustics have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the acoustics career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your acoustics degree? Acoustics careers are expected to grow 10.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to acoustics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Physicists | 20,500 | 14.5% |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | 19,400 | 10.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for acoustics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for acoustics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers acoustics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Physicists | $125,280 |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | $103,830 |
With over 10 different acoustics degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased acoustics school rankings to help you with this.
Acoustics is one of 8 different types of Physics programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physics | 12,875 |
| Other Physics | 467 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 196 |
| Theoretical & Mathematical Physics | 19 |
| Condensed Matter & Materials Physics | 8 |
Image Credit: By A. T. Service under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
