by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, general physics was the 60th most popular major nationwide with 12,875 degrees awarded. This represents a 3.2% reduction in general physics degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 13,287.
This year's Best General Physics Schools ranking compares 217 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general physics programs later in this article.
General Physics majors are found most commonly in careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is important. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most general physics degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional general physics certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
General Physics degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in general physics to the highest general physics degree, a . General Physics programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general physics, with approximately 28.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for general physics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 28.6% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 27.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 12.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.3% |
64.3% of general physics workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in general physics have received.
The education level required is different depending on the general physics career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your general physics degree? General Physics careers are expected to grow 7.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general physics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| 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 general physics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general physics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general physics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Physicists | $125,280 |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | $103,830 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
With over 1,645 different general physics 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 general physics school rankings to help you with this.
General Physics is one of 8 different types of Physics programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Physics | 467 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 196 |
| Acoustics | 96 |
| Theoretical & Mathematical Physics | 19 |
| Condensed Matter & Materials Physics | 8 |
Image Credit: By A. T. Service under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
