College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major

234 Ranked Colleges
6,549 Degrees Awarded
$71,037 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 49,473 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In , physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $40,118 and had an average of $21,983 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,549 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major” ranking analyzed 234 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. That schools that top this list have a program in physical sciences in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Physical Sciences Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences

1

Out of the 234 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 74 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Caltech Physical Sciences Report

2

Out of the 234 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #2 spot on the list. MIT is a fairly large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 124 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major. This medium-sized school is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it awarded 73 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Princeton Physical Sciences Report

4
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Out of the 234 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #4 spot on the list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 116 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Stanford University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

6
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #6, Rice University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 43 students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Rice University

7
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 32 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full The Graduate Center, CUNY Physical Sciences Report

8
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

With a ranking of #8, Yale University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. New Haven, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 63 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Yale University

9
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 87 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UChicago Physical Sciences Report

10
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

With a ranking of #10, Colorado School of Mines did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. Mines is a medium-sized school located in Golden, Colorado that handed out 29 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Mines

11
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #11. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 40 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Notre Dame Physical Sciences Report

12
University of Rochester crest
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York

With a ranking of #12, University of Rochester did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. University of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Rochester

13

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 19 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus

14

University of California - Berkeley ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 142 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Berkeley

15
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 82 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full Harvard University Physical Sciences Report

16

University of Colorado Boulder landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 75 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Colorado Boulder

17
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #17. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 42 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University

18

University of California - San Diego landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 88 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCSD Physical Sciences Report

19

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 39 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Louisiana State University

20

University of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. UAF is located in Fairbanks, Alaska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UAF

21
Cornell crest
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

Cornell University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 50 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Cornell University

22

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #22. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 85 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara

23
Hampton crest
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major ranking. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Hampton University

24
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

With a ranking of #24, University of Delaware did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. UD is a large public school situated in Newark, Delaware. It awarded 48 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UD

25

University of California - Riverside ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major list. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 65 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UCR

Rest of the Best 36 in Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major

Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
32
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
33
34
35
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, RI
36

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options