Engineering Physics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Engineering Physics graduates earn a median $89,154 four years after finishing — $40,794/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 1.7 years. Federal data pools 128 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 647 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $102,211 |
| 2 | Colorado School of Mines | CO | $97,497 |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | FL | $94,084 |
| 4 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $90,938 |
| 5 | Fordham University | NY | $90,465 |
| 6 | Murray State University | KY | $86,713 |
| 7 | Augustana College | IL | $85,993 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | WI | $85,901 |
| 9 | Stephen F Austin State University | TX | $80,086 |
| 10 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | IN | $74,337 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.