Natural Sciences graduates earn $57,935 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 Natural 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.
Natural Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $57,935 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 154 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,275 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$30,631
Median Earnings · 4yr
$57,935
Colleges Offering
154
Graduates / Year
2,275
Avg Net Price / yr
$18,036
How Much Do Natural Sciences Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Natural Sciences, a typical graduate earns $57,935, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $36,541 and $80,456, 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 $30,631 at one year out to $57,935 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$57,935
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$48,922
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Natural 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.
$36,54125th pct.
$57,935Median
$80,45675th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $57,935 and an estimated $72,144 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
Based on outcomes from 100 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,275 students who complete Natural Sciences programs each year, the majority (40%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
28%27%40%
Bachelor's40%
Certificate28%
Associate's27%
What Can You Do With a Natural Sciences Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Natural Sciences graduates show up in 1 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.
Top Colleges for Natural Sciences
Not sure where to study Natural 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 Natural Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Natural 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 Natural Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Natural 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 $57,935 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $30,631 at graduation to $57,935 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.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
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.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($36,541) and 75th ($80,456) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
$57,935 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $36,541 and $80,456, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Natural Sciences degree?
$30,631 in the first year out. That grows to $57,935 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 Natural 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 Natural Sciences program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Natural Sciences bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Natural Sciences?
154 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 Natural Sciences degree worth it?
$57,935 median earnings four years out against $18,036 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Natural Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Natural Sciences is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Natural 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 Natural Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Natural 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.
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.
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