2026 Best Physical Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Physical Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1522 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Physical Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Middlesex County College to be the best Physical Sciences school in the United States. Located in Edison, NJ, Middlesex County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Middlesex County College Physical Sciences students take on a median of $7,250 in debt. Get the full Middlesex County College report
The strong Physical Sciences programs at Rochester Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place in the United States. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. The median Physical Sciences program debt is $25,629. See the full Rochester Institute Of Technology profile
You'll be in good company at Jackson Community College, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Jackson, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Read more about Jackson Community College
Out of the 1522 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in South Prince George, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,090, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. See the full Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary profile
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Laguardia Community College one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Long Island City, NY, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. More on Cuny Laguardia Community College
Cuny Medgar Evers College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a public institution. Cuny Medgar Evers College graduates 20% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,352, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. The median Physical Sciences program debt is $8,875. Read more about Cuny Medgar Evers College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public school based in Magnolia, AR. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Typical Physical Sciences student debt is $23,625. See the full Southern Arkansas University Main Campus profile
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Set in Ranchos de Taos, NM, University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,136. Typical Physical Sciences student debt is $10,986. See the full University Of New Mexico Taos Campus profile
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Brooklyn, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,332, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. The median Physical Sciences program debt is $8,750. See the full Cuny New York City College Of Technology profile
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Set in Los Lunas, NM, University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,878, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. The median Physical Sciences program debt is $10,986. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Gallup, NM, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,906, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete their Physical Sciences program here. Get the full University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus report
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. The median Physical Sciences program debt is $9,000. Read more about Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Set in Los Alamos, NM, University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,214, compared with $5,578 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,711 in student loans. Read more about University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
Bridgewater State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. See the full Bridgewater State University profile
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #15 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University
Itawamba Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about Itawamba Community College
Santa Ana College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Santa Ana College
Santa Clara University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read more about Santa Clara University
University Of Maryland College Park did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full University Of Maryland College Park report
Colorado School Of Mines placed #20 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
Connecticut College placed #21 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Connecticut College
Davidson College
Davidson College placed #22 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Davidson College profile
Hope College
Hope College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. See the full Hope College profile
Olivet Nazarene University placed #24 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Olivet Nazarene University
Carlow University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Carlow University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Physical Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Great Basin College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Get the full Great Basin College report
Lawrence Technological University did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Lawrence Technological University report
Moorpark College
Moorpark College placed #28 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Moorpark College
Roberts Wesleyan College placed #29 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Roberts Wesleyan College
San Juan College
San Juan College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. More on San Juan College
South Carolina State University did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full South Carolina State University profile
University Of Louisville came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Louisville profile
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Wisconsin Lutheran College placed #34 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on Wisconsin Lutheran College
Lassen Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Lassen Community College report
Seattle Community College South Campus did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Seattle Community College South Campus
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College placed #37 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Bowdoin College profile
Fairmont State University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about Fairmont State University
Indian Hills Community College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. See the full Indian Hills Community College profile
Henry Ford Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Henry Ford Community College report
Morgan State University did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Morgan State University report
Spelman College
Spelman College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. More on Spelman College
University Of San Francisco placed #44 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of San Francisco
Whitman College
Whitman College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Read the full report on Whitman College
Atlanta Metropolitan State College placed #46 among Physical Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Atlanta Metropolitan State College profile
George Fox University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on George Fox University
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. Read more about Illinois Institute Of Technology
Las Positas College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Las Positas College
Olympic College
Olympic College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Physical Sciences schools. See the full Olympic College profile
Related Physical Sciences Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Physical Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Physical Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Physical Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Physical Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Physical Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1522 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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