Physics: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 129 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$75,431 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
7.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+29%Modeled 10-year ROI
$78,216Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$78,216Median reported earnings · year 4
$81,594Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,495Median federal debt
71thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
129Reporting programs
108With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $80,759
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,770
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $78,216
- Federal debt
- $23,495
- Reporting programs
- 129
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $124,295
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $163,024
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$71,830National median$78,21675th percentile$88,207
108 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology$131,0252Cornell University$118,6493University of Notre Dame$110,0294University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$103,4775Oregon State University$103,1676Oregon State University-Cascades Campus$103,1677Whitworth University$99,8428College of the Holy Cross$99,1659Le Moyne College$99,00910California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$96,805Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 10 crosswalk linksPhysicistsSOC 19-2012 · 10 crosswalk linksPhysics Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1054 · 10 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $131,025 | $18,500 | +230% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $118,649 | $15,961 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $110,029 | $21,500 | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $19,200 | +158% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $103,167 | $25,410 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $103,167 | $25,410 | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Whitworth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $99,842 | $23,250 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | College of the Holy CrossBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $99,165 | Not available | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Le Moyne CollegeBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $99,009 | Not available | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $96,805 | $23,000 | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $96,215 | $15,000 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $96,138 | Not available | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $96,043 | $15,508 | +118% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $95,018 | $16,800 | +118% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $94,543 | $23,357 | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $93,461 | Not available | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $92,826 | $17,522 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $92,746 | $27,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $92,293 | $22,250 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 20 | Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Shippensburg, PA | $91,610 | Not available | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $91,438 | $22,177 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $90,900 | $20,194 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $90,457 | $24,625 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $89,944 | $28,750 | +86% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Magnolia, AR | $89,685 | $23,625 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Willamette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, OR | $89,506 | $22,989 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBachelor's Degree | Buckhannon, WV | $89,430 | Not available | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $88,207 | $20,650 | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $87,856 | $23,000 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $87,488 | $29,070 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireBachelor's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $87,033 | Not available | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $86,849 | Not available | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $86,504 | Not available | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $86,078 | $25,925 | +73% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $85,708 | $21,100 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $85,657 | Not available | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsBachelor's Degree | River Falls, WI | $85,638 | $30,000 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $85,219 | $15,982 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Georgia College & State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $85,089 | Not available | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $82,431 | $21,831 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boone, NC | $82,399 | $22,096 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $81,949 | Not available | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $81,840 | $20,270 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $81,763 | $23,830 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $81,763 | $23,830 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $81,763 | $23,830 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $81,696 | $24,700 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 48 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $81,696 | $24,700 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 49 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $81,077 | $20,500 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | University of Wisconsin-La CrosseBachelor's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $80,594 | $26,292 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 51 | SUNY OneontaBachelor's Degree | Oneonta, NY | $80,041 | Not available | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $80,025 | $23,594 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 53 | Salisbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salisbury, MD | $79,158 | $23,750 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 54 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $78,569 | $16,464 | +40% | Positive payoff |
| 55 | William & MaryBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, VA | $77,863 | $20,000 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $77,851 | $22,250 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $77,737 | $25,250 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | SUNY College at GeneseoBachelor's Degree | Geneseo, NY | $77,575 | $18,000 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $77,380 | $20,500 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 60 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $77,158 | $21,990 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 61 | Lewis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $76,122 | Not available | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $75,867 | $17,113 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 63 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $75,867 | $17,113 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 64 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $75,764 | $20,635 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $75,281 | $27,000 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $75,160 | Not available | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Kutztown, PA | $74,813 | Not available | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 68 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $74,738 | $20,333 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $74,475 | $26,572 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 70 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $74,410 | $19,000 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 71 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $73,879 | $26,324 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $73,879 | $26,324 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 73 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $73,879 | $26,324 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 74 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $73,879 | $26,324 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 75 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $73,879 | $26,324 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $73,747 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 77 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Bloomsburg, PA | $73,703 | Not available | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 78 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Peter, MN | $73,540 | $26,000 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 79 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $73,186 | $27,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 80 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $72,734 | $27,000 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 81 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $72,596 | $27,000 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $71,830 | $22,314 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 83 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $71,752 | $25,209 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $70,462 | $23,229 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 85 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $69,334 | $22,750 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $69,192 | Not available | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 87 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $68,967 | $22,750 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 88 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $68,682 | $13,750 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 89 | University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoBachelor's Degree | Humacao, PR | $67,625 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $67,544 | $26,974 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $67,544 | $26,974 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $67,544 | $26,974 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $67,536 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $67,505 | $21,948 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Siena UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loudonville, NY | $66,865 | $26,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $65,217 | $23,500 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $65,013 | $21,683 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Indiana University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Indiana, PA | $64,837 | $29,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Boise State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boise, ID | $64,459 | $26,175 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | University of North FloridaBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $64,413 | Not available | -12% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.