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Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region

244 Colleges
$41,747 Avg Salary
$20,026 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Physical Sciences School for You

Physical Sciences is the #19 most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 244 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Physical Sciences program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for physical sciences majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found University of Washington - Seattle Campus to be the most popular school for physical sciences students who want to pursue a degree in the Far Western US Region . UW Seattle is a very large public school located in the large city of Seattle.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from UW Seattle carry an average student debt load of $17,267. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $456, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

Out of the 244 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the # 2 spot on the list. UCSD is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UCSD accumulate an average of around $17,438 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $167.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UC Berkeley accumulate an average of around $14,276 in student debt.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Berkeley

The excellent programs at University of California - Santa Barbara helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best physical sciences schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, physical sciences graduates from UCSB take out $20,685 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $343.

Full Physical Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of California - Los Angeles is a great place for physical sciences students. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UCLA accumulate an average of around $17,101 in student debt.

Full Physical Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles Report

University of California - Irvine did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from UC Irvine carry an average student debt load of $18,271. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $201, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #7 on the list. UC Santa Cruz is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UC Santa Cruz take out is $20,222.

Full Physical Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz Report

University of California - Davis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the small suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, physical sciences graduates from UC Davis take out $17,207 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $272, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Davis

#9

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

Stanford University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Stanford.

Full Physical Sciences at Stanford University Report

University of California - Riverside came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the city of Riverside, UCR is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UCR take out is $20,749.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Riverside

#11

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at Oregon State accumulate an average of around $21,870 in student debt.

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Washington State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the distant town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Wazzu take out is $19,750. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $399.

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#13

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR

University of Oregon did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #13 on the list. UO is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UO take out is $19,565.

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#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

San Diego State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. SDSU is a fairly large public school located in the city of San Diego.

Physical Sciences majors at SDSU take out an average of $23,936 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at San Diego State University

#15

American River College

Sacramento, CA

American River College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at American River College

#16

Irvine Valley College

Irvine, CA

Irvine Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #16 on the list. Irvine Valley College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.

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California Institute of Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Pasadena.

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#18

El Camino College

Torrance, CA

El Camino College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Torrance, El Camino College is a public college with a large student population.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at El Camino College

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. Cal Poly Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from Cal Poly Pomona carry an average student debt load of $18,988.

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#20

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA

With a ranking of #20, Western Washington University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Located in the city of Bellingham, WWU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, physical sciences graduates from WWU take out $24,087 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Western Washington University

With a ranking of #21, University of Nevada - Reno did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. UNR is a fairly large public school located in the city of Reno.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UNR take out is $19,775.

Full Physical Sciences at University of Nevada - Reno Report

University of Southern California landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular physical sciences programs. USC is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from USC carry an average student debt load of $3,000.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Southern California

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out is $19,750. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $537, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Physical Sciences at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report

With a ranking of #23, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for physical sciences students. Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, physical sciences graduates from CSULB take out $21,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Physical Sciences at California State University - Long Beach Report

#25

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public college with a very large student population.

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#26

Western Nevada College

Carson City, NV
#27

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA
#27

Moorpark College

Moorpark, CA
#29

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA
#30

Green River College

Auburn, WA
#34

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA
#36

Portland State University

Portland, OR

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Physical Sciences students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Most Popular Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
37 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
37 Seattle Central College Seattle, WA
39 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
40 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
41 Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA
42 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
43 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
44 Santiago Canyon College Orange, CA
44 California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
46 North Seattle College Seattle, WA
47 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
48 Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA

Best Physical Sciences Colleges by State

Explore the best physical sciences schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
California 8,302
Washington 1,936
Oregon 606
Hawaii 107
Nevada 315
Alaska 60

Physical Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 21,239
Physics 13,674
Geological & Earth Sciences 7,821
General Physical Sciences 3,823
Astronomy & Astrophysics 1,375
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 1,140
Materials Sciences 658
Other Physical Science 538
Physics and Astronomy 38

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences 254,454
Engineering 198,468
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 177,778
Engineering Technologies 85,188
Mathematics & Statistics 52,396

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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