Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn $58,891 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.2%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Natural Sciences Managers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Biological and Physical Sciences as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Biological and Physical Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $58,891 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 371 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 28,469 students complete it each year, most walking away with 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?
Four years after finishing Biological and Physical Sciences, a typical graduate earns $58,891, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,986 and $81,781, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $35,639 at one year out to $58,891 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
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
Not every Biological and Physical Sciences graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. 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 159 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?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Biological and Physical Sciences graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below 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
Not sure where to study Biological and Physical Sciences? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it 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 not the only path through Interdisciplinary Studies: 38 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
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 4 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.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.2% over the next decade, with Natural Sciences Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 72,700 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?
$58,891 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,986 and $81,781, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Biological and Physical Sciences degree?
$35,639 in the first year out. That grows to $58,891 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Biological and Physical Sciences degree?
Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Biological and Physical Sciences program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for a Biological and Physical Sciences associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Biological and Physical Sciences?
371 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Biological and Physical Sciences degree worth it?
$58,891 median earnings four years out against $6,026 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Biological and Physical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Biological and Physical Sciences is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Biological and Physical Sciences-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Biological and Physical Sciences graduates consistently look for 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. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
It can be. At a median salary of $58,891, graduate study in Biological and Physical Sciences tends to meaningfully raise long-term income, particularly through specialized or professional programs tied to high-demand roles. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Natural Sciences Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +8.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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.
Yes, most schools allow it, but the schedule math rarely works without either overlapping requirements or extra time. Here's when it actually fits in four years.
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.
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.
