Physics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Physics graduates earn a median $76,786 four years after finishing — $28,426/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 2.4 years. Federal data pools 727 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 7,751 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Physics ranks #55 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 73% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $131,025 |
| 2 | Cornell University | NY | $118,649 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $110,029 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $103,477 |
| 5 | Oregon State University | OR | $103,167 |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | OR | $103,167 |
| 7 | Whitworth University | WA | $99,842 |
| 8 | College of the Holy Cross | MA | $99,165 |
| 9 | Le Moyne College | NY | $99,009 |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $96,805 |
| 11 | University of California-Irvine | CA | $96,215 |
| 12 | George Mason University | VA | $96,138 |
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.
How fast does Physics pay grow after graduation?
From $43,461 one year out to $76,786 four years out — a $33,325 climb, or 77% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Physics each year?
About 7,751 bachelor's graduates a year across 727 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.