Physics bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public · Federal field 4008

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$1,022 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 27.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $31,910 / year
10-year scenario: +9% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+66%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,874 → $69,490

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

17Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

28Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$25,346

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,635

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$75,764

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$219/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$25,346Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$37,684Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE78.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE74.2%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$41,874Year 1

$75,764Year 4

$69,490Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,314

Estimated loan payment$219

28borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$75,764 vs. $76,786

$1,022 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Natural Sciences Managers$152,730 median wageCO estimate · 1,640 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysicists$104,580 median wageCO estimate · 1,050 jobs · 19-2012+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$99,280 median wageCO estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1054+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,900 median wageCO estimate · 18,310 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

Possible alternatives