Physics: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
$163,024 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Los Angeles$178,1372University of California, Berkeley$177,5893University of California, San Diego$166,9974University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$163,0245University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$141,2536University of California, Davis$141,0347Ohio State University-Main Campus$132,984Observed 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.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Los AngelesDoctoral Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $178,137 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 2 | University of California, BerkeleyDoctoral Degree | Berkeley, CA | $177,589 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,481 |
| 3 | University of California, San DiegoDoctoral Degree | La Jolla, CA | $166,997 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,470 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignDoctoral Degree | Champaign, IL | $163,024 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,355 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborDoctoral Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $141,253 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 6 | University of California, DavisDoctoral Degree | Davis, CA | $141,034 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,741 |
| 7 | Ohio State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Columbus, OH | $132,984 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,339 |
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.