Physics

9,047 students earn a physics credential each year across 804 US colleges. Earnings below are the median for each school's graduates one and five years after finishing; debt is the median federal loan balance at completion.

Typical earnings, 1 year out: $46,641
Typical earnings, 5 years out: $80,500

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Highest earnings Most graduates

Bachelor's programs — top 100 of 679 colleges by graduate earnings

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina18$70,1501 year out—$28,750 2Brigham Young UniversityProvo, Utah35$68,6641 year out$97,503—3University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania55$68,2151 year out——4Whitworth UniversitySpokane, Washington24$65,3161 year out—$23,250 5California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, California27$64,0451 year out$74,433$23,000 6Portland State UniversityPortland, Oregon18$62,7491 year out$84,248$29,070 7University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina47$62,6471 year out—$19,200 8Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, Georgia3$62,4781 year out——9University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, Wisconsin9$62,1961 year out—$30,000 10University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, California74$60,4951 year out$80,500$21,100 11Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, New York42$60,3481 year out$111,815$20,270 12Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, Arkansas23$58,8701 year out—$23,625 13Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, Virginia42$58,0611 year out$78,349$27,000 14Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, Texas19$57,4351 year out—$25,000 15California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, California16$57,1141 year out——16California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, California16$56,0181 year out$80,480$19,069 17University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida37$55,8261 year out—$18,138 18Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, Massachusetts79$54,7731 year out$126,258$18,500 19Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, Maryland8$54,5481 year out$86,468$23,750 20University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse, Wisconsin13$54,4281 year out$84,403$26,292 21University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, Minnesota41$54,3501 year out$66,489$23,594 22University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California183$53,5971 year out$104,149$15,982 23Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, Ohio68$53,5041 year out$80,357$23,357 24Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, Texas46$53,3291 year out—$17,522 25University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, Michigan70$53,0191 year out$75,644$22,250 26University of DelawareNewark, Delaware13$52,7411 year out—$26,572 27Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, Colorado13$51,9271 year out——28University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, Illinois61$51,0191 year out$72,340$20,500 29Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York48$50,9331 year out—$15,961 30University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, California110$50,2191 year out—$15,508 31Northeastern UniversityBoston, Massachusetts27$49,3991 year out—$26,797 32University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, California60$48,9511 year out$84,411$16,800 33CUNY City CollegeNew York, New York14$48,9081 year out——34Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, New York40$48,3741 year out—$27,000 35University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, Massachusetts22$48,3241 year out—$22,177 36Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, Oregon33$48,1691 year out—$25,410 37Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend, Oregon0$48,1691 year out—$25,410 38University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, Nebraska13$47,6701 year out—$25,209 39Virginia Military InstituteLexington, Virginia11$46,6411 year out——40University of South FloridaTampa, Florida32$46,0941 year out$78,010$22,750 41Boise State UniversityBoise, Idaho22$45,8131 year out—$26,175 42Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, New York57$44,5621 year out$85,544$21,683 43North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, North Carolina20$43,7401 year out—$23,490 44Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania56$43,4611 year out$60,242$23,830 45Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, Pennsylvania2$43,4611 year out$60,242$23,830 46Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonAbington, Pennsylvania1$43,4611 year out$60,242$23,830 47University of California-IrvineIrvine, California86$43,1441 year out—$15,000 48California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, California32$42,0571 year out$79,330$23,229 49University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado82$41,8741 year out$69,490$20,635 50Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Texas20$41,7371 year out$101,450$23,500 51University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, Washington125$41,4741 year out$82,775$17,113 52University of Washington-Bothell CampusBothell, Washington16$41,4741 year out$82,775$17,113 53University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, Maryland62$39,8251 year out$101,240$20,194 54Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, Virginia16$39,8041 year out—$25,250 55Montclair State UniversityMontclair, New Jersey5$39,7401 year out——56University of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah35$38,7481 year out—$21,990 57University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, California36$37,8591 year out—$16,250 58University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, Wisconsin51$36,8781 year out$69,928$20,500 59The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas80$36,8321 year out$92,183$20,333 60Rowan UniversityGlassboro, New Jersey27$36,4351 year out$84,651$27,000 61The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas25$36,3281 year out—$27,508 62Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, New Jersey41$35,6891 year out$87,968$26,974 63Rutgers University-CamdenCamden, New Jersey1$35,6891 year out$87,968$26,974 64Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, New Jersey0$35,6891 year out$87,968$26,974 65The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, Texas32$34,6111 year out$79,646$22,314 66University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, Colorado9$34,3731 year out—$27,000 67Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan57$33,4001 year out$75,119$27,000 68University of ConnecticutStorrs, Connecticut23$32,3411 year out—$26,324 69University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury, Connecticut0$32,3411 year out—$26,324 70University of Connecticut-Avery PointGroton, Connecticut0$32,3411 year out—$26,324 71University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford, Connecticut0$32,3411 year out—$26,324 72University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford, Connecticut0$32,3411 year out—$26,324 73Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, Georgia22$31,0011 year out$57,198$26,296 74Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, Arizona42$30,5031 year out$73,544$24,700 75Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, Arizona5$30,5031 year out$73,544$24,700 76Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, Indiana47$30,2031 year out—$21,948 77New York UniversityNew York, New York57$24,8021 year out—$22,750 78University of California-RiversideRiverside, California33$19,9771 year out—$19,000 79University of ArizonaTucson, Arizona71—1 year out$92,526$20,650 80University of California-DavisDavis, California62—1 year out$80,618$16,464 81Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, Georgia52—1 year out$81,584$21,831 82Harvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts51—1 year out——83University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, Massachusetts51—1 year out—$27,000 84University of ChicagoChicago, Illinois48—1 year out$91,650—85University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, Virginia47—1 year out——86University of RochesterRochester, New York40—1 year out—$19,000 87William & MaryWilliamsburg, Virginia40—1 year out—$20,000 88Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts39—1 year out——89University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, Alabama38—1 year out——90Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida37—1 year out$76,659$20,765 91University of FloridaGainesville, Florida36—1 year out$71,362$13,750 92California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, California35—1 year out$114,864$23,000 93Princeton UniversityPrinceton, New Jersey34—1 year out——94Stanford UniversityStanford, California33—1 year out——95University of Notre DameNotre Dame, Indiana32—1 year out$87,228$21,500 96United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, Maryland31—1 year out——97Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, Ohio31—1 year out—$25,292 98Columbia College ChicagoChicago, Illinois30—1 year out——99Illinois State UniversityNormal, Illinois30—1 year out——100The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, Texas30—1 year out—$23,875

Associate programs — top 100 of 127 colleges by graduate earnings

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, California99—1 year out——2Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, California44—1 year out——3Moorpark CollegeMoorpark, California43—1 year out——4College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, California32—1 year out$72,279—5Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills, California32—1 year out——6Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, California27—1 year out——7Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, California27—1 year out——8Cabrillo CollegeAptos, California24—1 year out——9Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, California24—1 year out——10Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, California23—1 year out——11College of San MateoSan Mateo, California23—1 year out——12El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, California22—1 year out——13Pasadena City CollegePasadena, California22—1 year out——14West Valley CollegeSaratoga, California22—1 year out——15Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, California21—1 year out——16Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, California20—1 year out——17Hartnell CollegeSalinas, California20—1 year out——18Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, California20—1 year out——19Clovis Community CollegeFresno, California20—1 year out——20Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, California19—1 year out——21Cypress CollegeCypress, California18—1 year out——22Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, California18—1 year out——23Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictSan Jacinto, California18—1 year out——24Oxnard CollegeOxnard, California18—1 year out——25Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, California17—1 year out——26Folsom Lake CollegeFolsom, California17—1 year out——27Norco CollegeNorco, California17—1 year out——28San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, California16—1 year out——29Sierra CollegeRocklin, California16—1 year out——30Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, California16—1 year out——31Napa Valley CollegeNapa, California15—1 year out——32Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, California15—1 year out——33San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, California15—1 year out——34Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, California14—1 year out——35Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, California14—1 year out——36Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, California14—1 year out——37Los Medanos CollegePittsburg, California14—1 year out——38Solano Community CollegeFairfield, California14—1 year out——39Arizona Western CollegeYuma, Arizona13—1 year out——40Reedley CollegeReedley, California13—1 year out——41Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, California12—1 year out——42Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, California12—1 year out——43San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, California12—1 year out——44Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, California12—1 year out——45Skyline CollegeSan Bruno, California12—1 year out——46Butte CollegeOroville, California11—1 year out——47East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey Park, California11—1 year out——48Evergreen Valley CollegeSan Jose, California11—1 year out——49Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, California10—1 year out——50Cuyamaca CollegeEl Cajon, California10—1 year out——51West Los Angeles CollegeCulver City, California10—1 year out——52Austin Community College DistrictAustin, Texas10—1 year out——53Merced CollegeMerced, California9—1 year out——54College of the SequoiasVisalia, California9—1 year out——55Rogers State UniversityClaremore, Oklahoma9—1 year out——56Citrus CollegeGlendora, California8—1 year out——57Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipa, California8—1 year out——58College of the DesertPalm Desert, California8—1 year out——59Fullerton CollegeFullerton, California8—1 year out——60Columbia CollegeSonora, California7—1 year out——61Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, California7—1 year out——62Riverside City CollegeRiverside, California7—1 year out——63Shasta CollegeRedding, California7—1 year out——64American River CollegeSacramento, California6—1 year out——65Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, California6—1 year out——66Fresno City CollegeFresno, California6—1 year out——67Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, California6—1 year out——68Mission CollegeSanta Clara, California6—1 year out——69Modesto Junior CollegeModesto, California6—1 year out——70Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, California6—1 year out——71College of the RedwoodsEureka, California6—1 year out——72Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, California5—1 year out——73Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles, California5—1 year out——74San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, California5—1 year out——75Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston, Massachusetts5—1 year out——76Las Positas CollegeLivermore, California5—1 year out——77Chabot CollegeHayward, California4—1 year out——78Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, California4—1 year out——79Ohlone CollegeFremont, California4—1 year out——80San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, California4—1 year out——81Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, Connecticut4—1 year out——82Butler Community CollegeEl Dorado, Kansas4—1 year out——83Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, Massachusetts4—1 year out——84El Paso Community CollegeEl Paso, Texas4—1 year out——85Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City, Utah4—1 year out——86Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, California4—1 year out——87Lemoore CollegeLemoore, California4—1 year out——88City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, California3—1 year out——89Stark State CollegeNorth Canton, Ohio3—1 year out——90Amarillo CollegeAmarillo, Texas3—1 year out——91Tyler Junior CollegeTyler, Texas3—1 year out——92Chandler-Gilbert Community CollegeChandler, Arizona3—1 year out——93Canada CollegeRedwood City, California2—1 year out——94Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, California2—1 year out——95Laney CollegeOakland, California2—1 year out——96Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, California2—1 year out——97Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, Iowa2—1 year out——98Cecil CollegeNorth East, Maryland2—1 year out——99Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, New Mexico2—1 year out——100Oklahoma City Community CollegeOklahoma City, Oklahoma2—1 year out——

Certificate programs — 8 colleges

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, Wisconsin23—1 year out——2Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, Florida5—1 year out——3University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, Pennsylvania4—1 year out——4University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, Massachusetts3—1 year out——5San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, California1—1 year out——6Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, Indiana1—1 year out——7Rowan UniversityGlassboro, New Jersey1—1 year out——8University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, Wisconsin1—1 year out——

US Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data (4-digit CIP). Graduates are conferrals in the most recent IPEDS year; earnings cover federally-aided completers who are working and not enrolled; medians for small programs are privacy-suppressed (—).