Natural Sciences: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 24 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Natural Sciences pays
Career outlook for Natural Sciences graduates
The job market for the occupations Natural Sciences graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | 183,400 | +1.8% | $78,490 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Natural sciences managers | 104,300 | +3.7% | $161,180 | Bachelor's degree |
| Physical scientists, all other | 31,900 | +0.6% | $117,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| Life scientists, all other | 7,800 | +3.7% | $87,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Natural Sciences vs similar majors
How Natural Sciences stacks up against the closest fields in Interdisciplinary Studies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies · this major | Human Computer Interaction | Systems Science and Theory | Mathematics and Computer Science | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 51 C | 84 A | 90 A | 92 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $61,473 | $122,421 | $110,759 | $93,003 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $26,366 | $76,324 | $69,716 | $56,140 |
| ROI vs cost | +107% | +806% | +710% | +502% |
| Typical debt | $20,701 | $36,897 | $25,199 | $21,409 |
| Colleges offering it | 24 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Natural Sciences earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Natural Sciences
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kapiolani Community College Honolulu, HI | Certificate | $77,330 | — | +6,115% | Strong return |
| 2 | Leeward Community College Pearl City, HI | Certificate | $73,547 | — | +5,457% | Strong return |
| 3 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA | Certificate | $64,323 | — | +4,901% | Strong return |
| 4 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | Associate's | $112,393 | — | +1,767% | Strong return |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | Associate's | $112,393 | — | +1,619% | Strong return |
| 6 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ | Certificate | $64,915 | — | +1,393% | Strong return |
| 7 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZ | Certificate | $58,832 | — | +1,029% | Strong return |
| 8 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ | Certificate | $53,855 | — | +660% | Strong return |
| 9 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ | Certificate | $53,626 | — | +616% | Strong return |
| 10 | Dominican University River Forest, IL | Associate's | $64,442 | $25,109 | +496% | Strong return |
| 11 | Daemen University Amherst, NY | Associate's | $70,353 | $27,000 | +437% | Strong return |
| 12 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | Associate's | $65,682 | $20,500 | +347% | Strong return |
| 13 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA | Associate's | $89,101 | $26,000 | +315% | Strong return |
| 14 | Coastline Community College Fountain Valley, CA | Certificate | $50,474 | — | +235% | Strong return |
| 15 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ | Certificate | $49,029 | — | +217% | Strong return |
| 16 | Massasoit Community College Brockton, MA | Certificate | $48,316 | $6,147 | +210% | Strong return |
| 17 | Felician University Lodi, NJ | Associate's | $67,733 | — | +184% | Strong return |
| 18 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Associate's | $57,150 | $26,250 | +84% | Strong return |
| 19 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, PR | Certificate | $45,449 | — | -51% | Poor return |
| 20 | Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Harrisburg, PA | Associate's | $45,500 | $26,000 | -88% | Poor return |
| 21 | Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | Associate's | $44,471 | $27,000 | -118% | Poor return |
| 22 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ | Certificate | $40,826 | — | -444% | Poor return |
| 23 | University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Cayey, PR | Associate's | $31,621 | $5,500 | -698% | Poor return |
| 24 | Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LA | Certificate | $33,996 | $17,499 | -744% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.