Physics

What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$57,900

Median Earnings

$77,863

Schools Offering

117

ROI Grade

B+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $71,830Median: $77,86375th: $88,207

Best Schools for Physics by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private	99	$131,025	$20,111	$18,500	B+
2	Cornell University NY · Private	96	$118,649	$28,690	$15,961	B+
3	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$110,029	$26,780	$21,500	A
4	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public	94	$103,477	$11,655	$19,200	B+
5	Oregon State University OR · Public	75	$103,167	$19,604	$25,410	C+
6	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public	73	$103,167	$18,048	$25,410	C+
7	Whitworth University WA · Private	55	$99,842	$26,534	$23,250	B
8	College of the Holy Cross MA · Private	85	$99,165	$38,782	N/A	-
9	Le Moyne College NY · Private	70	$99,009	$22,277	N/A	-
10	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$96,805	$16,665	$23,000	A
11	University of California-Irvine CA · Public	94	$96,215	$14,251	$15,000	B+
12	George Mason University VA · Public	86	$96,138	$17,915	N/A	-
13	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$96,043	$13,481	$15,508	B+
14	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$95,018	$12,470	$16,800	B+
15	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$94,543	$17,339	$23,357	B
16	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$92,826	$21,315	$17,522	B+
17	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$92,746	$24,953	$27,000	C+
18	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$92,293	$13,138	$22,250	B
19	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania PA · Public	50	$91,610	$23,726	N/A	-
20	University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public	76	$91,438	$17,163	$22,177	C+
21	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$90,900	$15,678	$20,194	C+
22	Towson University MD · Public	79	$90,457	$17,413	$24,625	B+
23	University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC · Public	68	$89,944	$15,435	$28,750	B
24	Southern Arkansas University Main Campus AR · Public	30	$89,685	$14,027	$23,625	B
25	Willamette University OR · Private	59	$89,506	$25,121	$22,989	B+
26	West Virginia Wesleyan College WV · Private	44	$89,430	$18,083	N/A	-
27	University of Arizona AZ · Public	75	$88,207	$16,674	$20,650	A
28	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$87,856	$11,531	$23,000	B
29	Portland State University OR · Public	69	$87,488	$9,552	$29,070	C+
30	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire WI · Public	72	$87,033	$16,550	N/A	-
31	Stockton University NJ · Public	62	$86,849	$20,670	N/A	-
32	California State University-Fullerton CA · Public	88	$86,504	$6,555	N/A	-
33	University of Houston TX · Public	80	$86,078	$14,276	$25,925	B+
34	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$85,708	$12,548	$21,100	B+
35	Bethel University MN · Private	71	$85,657	$28,556	N/A	-
36	University of Wisconsin-River Falls WI · Public	66	$85,638	$14,054	$30,000	C+
37	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$85,219	$16,109	$15,982	B+
38	Georgia College & State University GA · Public	62	$85,089	$20,686	N/A	-
39	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$82,431	$12,116	$21,831	B+
40	Appalachian State University NC · Public	58	$82,399	$16,836	$22,096	B+
41	Illinois State University IL · Public	74	$81,949	$19,398	N/A	-
42	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private	93	$81,840	$36,228	$20,270	B+
43	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College PA · Public	60	$81,763	$24,558	$23,830	C+
44	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$81,763	$32,875	$23,830	C+
45	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington PA · Public	63	$81,763	$18,071	$23,830	C+
46	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$81,696	$14,967	$24,700	D
47	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$81,077	$14,355	$20,500	B
48	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse WI · Public	76	$80,594	$16,210	$26,292	C+
49	SUNY Oneonta NY · Public	72	$80,041	$19,158	N/A	-
50	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public	88	$80,025	$16,778	$23,594	B

Strong Value

Is Physics Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Physics pays off for most graduates. The average is $57,900 four years out - enough to handle student debt and start getting ahead. The ROI is solid; what moves it up or down is where you go and what you specialize in.

117 schools offer this major, so you have real options. Compare net price and graduate earnings at your actual target schools - the spread between the best and worst ROI in this field is wide.

The top earner here is University of Notre Dame, where graduates pull $110,029 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Physics All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Physics

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Physics by Earnings

Is Physics Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Related Reading