by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for physical sciences students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,242 master's degrees in physical sciences during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The physical sciences master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality physical sciences program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for physical sciences students working on their master's degree.
The physical sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Physical Sciences Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for physical sciences students seeking a a master's degree.
Duke University is a wonderful option for individuals pursuing a master's degree in physical sciences. Located in the large city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from Duke University
Any student who is interested in a master's degree in physical sciences needs to look into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public university located in the small city of Chapel Hill.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
It's hard to beat University of Virginia - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a master's degree in physical sciences. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from University of Virginia - Main Campus
It is difficult to beat Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a master's degree in physical sciences. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from Emory University
Located in the city of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from University of Florida
Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from Florida State University
NC State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Raleigh.More information about a master’s in physical sciences from North Carolina State University
Explore the best physical sciences schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 34 | 130 |
| Florida | 34 | 221 |
| Virginia | 33 | 101 |
| Georgia | 32 | 108 |
| Tennessee | 32 | 99 |
| North Carolina | 31 | 264 |
| Kentucky | 31 | 52 |
| West Virginia | 30 | 24 |
| Alabama | 30 | 68 |
| Louisiana | 30 | 68 |
| South Carolina | 30 | 33 |
| Arkansas | 30 | 32 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 407 |
| Chemistry | 393 |
| Physics | 325 |
| Other Physical Science | 32 |
| General Physical Sciences | 22 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 21 |
| Materials Sciences | 20 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 19 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering | 8,796 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 5,589 |
| Engineering Technologies | 2,151 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 1,735 |
| Natural Resources & Conservation | 1,338 |
| Architecture & Related Services | 1,257 |
| Agriculture & Agriculture Operations | 1,051 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 411 |
