Most Biological and Physical Sciences programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $35,639 right after finishing, climbing to $58,891 four years out.
Biological and Physical Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduates typically earn around $58,891 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 371 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 28,469 students complete this program each year, most earning a associate's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$35,639
Median Earnings · 4yr
$58,891
Colleges Offering
371
Graduates / Year
28,469
Avg Net Price / yr
$6,026
How Much Do Biological and Physical Sciences Graduates Earn?
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn $58,891 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,986 and $81,781. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $35,639 climbs to $58,891 by year four.
$35,639
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$58,891
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$63,018
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a wide earnings spread across Biological and Physical Sciences graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$40,98625th pct.
$58,891Median
$81,78175th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $58,891 against an estimated $24,104 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 160 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 28,469 students who complete Biological and Physical Sciences programs each year, the majority (88%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
88%
Associate's88%
Bachelor's9%
Master's2%
What Can You Do With a Biological and Physical Sciences Degree?
Biological and Physical Sciences connects to 2 occupations in the job market. Natural Sciences Managers leads at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Top Colleges for Biological and Physical Sciences
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Biological and Physical Sciences students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Biological and Physical Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Biological and Physical Sciences is one of 39 specializations within Interdisciplinary Studies. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Biological and Physical Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Biological and Physical Sciences Degree: Pros & Cons
The data on Biological and Physical Sciences shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $58,891 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $35,639 at graduation to $58,891 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 74,700 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Biological and Physical Sciences Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn?
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn a national median of $58,891 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,986 and $81,781. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Biological and Physical Sciences degree?
One year after graduation, Biological and Physical Sciences degree holders earn a median of $35,639. That climbs to $58,891 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Biological and Physical Sciences degree?
Biological and Physical Sciences degree holders pursue careers including Natural Sciences Managers, which pays a median of $167,220/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Biological and Physical Sciences program take?
A Biological and Physical Sciences associate degree typically takes two years full-time at a community college. Many students transfer to a four-year university afterward to complete a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Biological and Physical Sciences?
371 colleges and universities in the United States offer Biological and Physical Sciences programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Biological and Physical Sciences degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $58,891 and an average net price of roughly $6,026/yr, a Biological and Physical Sciences degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Biological and Physical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Biological and Physical Sciences is a focused concentration within the broader Interdisciplinary Studies field. The Interdisciplinary Studies major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Biological and Physical Sciences-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
Employers hiring Biological and Physical Sciences graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
Is graduate school worth it for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
With a median salary of $58,891, graduate study in Biological and Physical Sciences can meaningfully increase long-term income, particularly for specialized or professional programs aligned with high-demand roles. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
The job outlook for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +1.1% job growth over the next 10 years. Natural Sciences Managers is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.7%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
