Best Physical Sciences Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
23
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$118,807
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$15,719
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Clark College
Grad rate: 37.5% |
WA | +$565,110 | $72,004 | $17,485 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Tacoma Community College
Grad rate: 32.7% |
WA | +$332,046 | $60,222 | $16,197 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Estrella Mountain Community College
Grad rate: 20.5% |
AZ | +$121,428 | $49,808 | $17,366 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mesa Community College
Grad rate: 15.6% |
AZ | +$82,810 | $48,038 | $18,975 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Evergreen Valley College
Grad rate: 38.6% |
CA | +$48,246 | $46,668 | $22,557 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
CUNY Bronx Community College
Grad rate: 19.5% |
NY | +$30,446 | $44,721 | $11,987 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Grad rate: 20.4% |
NY | -$6,160 | $43,623 | $13,404 | $8,750 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Grad rate: 19.6% |
AZ | -$12,874 | $43,094 | $17,377 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Grad rate: 23.1% |
NY | -$71,579 | $40,427 | $14,069 | $8,875 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Community College of Philadelphia
Grad rate: 17.7% |
PA | -$79,980 | $39,908 | $19,070 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Tulsa Community College
Grad rate: 25.2% |
OK | -$119,716 | $37,992 | $12,522 | $10,750 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Glendale Community College
Grad rate: 14.4% |
AZ | -$136,432 | $36,984 | $18,056 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
Grad rate: 24.9% |
NY | -$201,444 | $33,754 | $12,187 | $9,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Grad rate: 27.1% |
NY | -$213,559 | $33,145 | $13,167 | $7,500 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Middlesex College
Grad rate: 30.2% |
NJ | -$241,449 | $31,789 | $13,721 | $7,250 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Richard Bland College
Grad rate: 24.6% |
VA | -$306,770 | $29,412 | $19,405 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Grad rate: 24.7% |
NY | -$345,604 | $25,908 | $11,882 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus
Grad rate: 16.6% |
NM | -$350,836 | $25,596 | $11,378 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus
Grad rate: 17.3% |
NM | -$357,500 | $25,596 | $14,710 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus
Grad rate: 29.8% |
NM | -$359,180 | $25,596 | $15,550 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
University of New Mexico-Taos Campus
Grad rate: 20.8% |
NM | -$360,350 | $25,596 | $16,135 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Grad rate: 52.1% |
NM | -$370,026 | $25,596 | $20,973 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
North Central Michigan College
Grad rate: 28.6% |
MI | -$379,196 | $24,378 | $13,378 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Physical Sciences Degrees by State
Browse Physical Sciences programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.