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Physics.
Doctoral Degree•166 Institutions
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.
Annual Full Cost vs. Median Earnings
Each dot represents one program at an institution. Shows the spread of annual sticker price (or net price if sticker price is unavailable) vs earnings 4 years post-grad.
Field Median ($123,527)
P25-P75 Interval ($72,899 - $163,024)
HS Baseline ($35,872)
Breakeven Line (0% ROI)
Institution | State | Earnings | Avg Net Price | Median Debt | Lifetime Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | CA | $178,137 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $12,548 /yr | - | +$624k |
Berkeley | CA | $177,589 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $13,481 /yr | - | +$617k |
La Jolla | CA | $166,997 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $12,470 /yr | - | +$543k |
Champaign | IL | $163,024 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $14,355 /yr | - | +$507k |
Ann Arbor | MI | $141,253 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $13,138 /yr | - | +$351k |
Davis | CA | $141,034 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $14,741 /yr | - | +$344k |
Columbus | OH | $132,984 Nat: $130,153 4yr Post-Grad | $17,339 /yr | - | +$276k |
Tucson | AZ | $123,527 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $16,674 /yr | - | +$245k |
Santa Barbara | CA | $95,688 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $16,109 /yr | - | +$33k |
Irvine | CA | $92,632 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $14,251 /yr | - | +$16k |
Birmingham | AL | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,749 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tuscaloosa | AL | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,420 /yr | - | -$0 |
Auburn | AL | - Nat: $130,153 | $24,323 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tempe | AZ | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,967 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fayetteville | AR | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,209 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pasadena | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,075 /yr | - | -$0 |
Riverside | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,304 /yr | - | -$0 |
Santa Cruz | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,890 /yr | - | -$0 |
Los Angeles | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $32,740 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boulder | CO | - Nat: $130,153 | $25,346 /yr | - | -$0 |
Golden | CO | - Nat: $130,153 | $28,690 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fort Collins | CO | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,279 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denver | CO | - Nat: $130,153 | $36,131 /yr | - | -$0 |
Storrs | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $25,097 /yr | - | -$0 |
Middletown | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $30,177 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Haven | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $23,777 /yr | - | -$0 |
Delaware State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Dover | DE | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,910 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | DE | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,799 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $130,153 | $29,561 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $130,153 | $36,586 /yr | - | -$0 |
Washington | DC | - Nat: $130,153 | $40,815 /yr | - | -$0 |
Orlando | FL | - Nat: $130,153 | $10,411 /yr | - | -$0 |
Miami | FL | - Nat: $130,153 | $9,288 /yr | - | -$0 |
Gainesville | FL | - Nat: $130,153 | $6,541 /yr | - | -$0 |
Coral Gables | FL | - Nat: $130,153 | $37,244 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tampa | FL | - Nat: $130,153 | $9,812 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,585 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $130,153 | $12,116 /yr | - | -$0 |
Atlanta | GA | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,931 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | GA | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Honolulu | HI | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,664 /yr | - | -$0 |
Moscow | ID | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,831 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,860 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chicago | IL | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,425 /yr | - | -$0 |
Dekalb | IL | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,391 /yr | - | -$0 |
Evanston | IL | - Nat: $130,153 | $29,167 /yr | - | -$0 |
Carbondale | IL | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,297 /yr | - | -$0 |
Indianapolis | IN | - Nat: $130,153 | $11,668 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bloomington | IN | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,264 /yr | - | -$0 |
Notre Dame | IN | - Nat: $130,153 | $26,780 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ames | IA | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,589 /yr | - | -$0 |
Iowa City | IA | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,531 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lawrence | KS | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,059 /yr | - | -$0 |
Manhattan | KS | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,406 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lexington | KY | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,851 /yr | - | -$0 |
Louisville | KY | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,988 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baton Rouge | LA | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,151 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Orleans | LA | - Nat: $130,153 | $39,949 /yr | - | -$0 |
Orono | ME | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,510 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baltimore | MD | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,809 /yr | - | -$0 |
Baltimore | MD | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,467 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chestnut Hill | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $41,704 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $24,402 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waltham | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $35,736 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cambridge | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,066 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lowell | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,163 /yr | - | -$0 |
Amherst | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,383 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cambridge | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $20,111 /yr | - | -$0 |
Boston | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $30,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Medford | MA | - Nat: $130,153 | $39,998 /yr | - | -$0 |
East Lansing | MI | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,680 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houghton | MI | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,182 /yr | - | -$0 |
Detroit | MI | - Nat: $130,153 | $12,766 /yr | - | -$0 |
Minneapolis | MN | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,778 /yr | - | -$0 |
University | MS | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,314 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | MO | - Nat: $130,153 | $20,268 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rolla | MO | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,298 /yr | - | -$0 |
University of Missouri-St Louis ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Saint Louis | MO | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,071 /yr | - | -$0 |
St. Louis | MO | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,786 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bozeman | MT | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,499 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lincoln | NE | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,747 /yr | - | -$0 |
Las Vegas | NV | - Nat: $130,153 | $10,359 /yr | - | -$0 |
Reno | NV | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,927 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hanover | NH | - Nat: $130,153 | $29,519 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NH | - Nat: $130,153 | $23,805 /yr | - | -$0 |
Princeton | NJ | - Nat: $130,153 | $6,128 /yr | - | -$0 |
New Brunswick | NJ | - Nat: $130,153 | $24,406 /yr | - | -$0 |
Newark | NJ | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,703 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hoboken | NJ | - Nat: $130,153 | $41,346 /yr | - | -$0 |
Socorro | NM | - Nat: $130,153 | $9,873 /yr | - | -$0 |
Albuquerque | NM | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,489 /yr | - | -$0 |
Las Cruces | NM | - Nat: $130,153 | $8,889 /yr | - | -$0 |
Potsdam | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $30,305 /yr | - | -$0 |
New York | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,590 /yr | - | -$0 |
Ithaca | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $28,690 /yr | - | -$0 |
CUNY Graduate School and University Center ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. New York | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | - /yr | - | -$0 |
Troy | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $36,228 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rochester | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $29,278 /yr | - | -$0 |
Albany | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,167 /yr | - | -$0 |
Buffalo | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $20,995 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stony Brook | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,784 /yr | - | -$0 |
Syracuse | NY | - Nat: $130,153 | $38,793 /yr | - | -$0 |
Durham | NC | - Nat: $130,153 | $29,612 /yr | - | -$0 |
Chapel Hill | NC | - Nat: $130,153 | $11,655 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlotte | NC | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,435 /yr | - | -$0 |
Raleigh | NC | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,303 /yr | - | -$0 |
Grand Forks | ND | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,551 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cleveland | OH | - Nat: $130,153 | $41,190 /yr | - | -$0 |
Cincinnati | OH | - Nat: $130,153 | $25,648 /yr | - | -$0 |
Kent | OH | - Nat: $130,153 | $20,787 /yr | - | -$0 |
Athens | OH | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,637 /yr | - | -$0 |
Toledo | OH | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,249 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stillwater | OK | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,447 /yr | - | -$0 |
Norman | OK | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,300 /yr | - | -$0 |
Tulsa | OK | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,000 /yr | - | -$0 |
Corvallis | OR | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,604 /yr | - | -$0 |
Eugene | OR | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,182 /yr | - | -$0 |
Portland State University ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Portland | OR | - Nat: $130,153 | $9,552 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pittsburgh | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $31,944 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $38,509 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bethlehem | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $36,931 /yr | - | -$0 |
University Park | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $32,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pittsburgh | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $30,434 /yr | - | -$0 |
Philadelphia | PA | - Nat: $130,153 | $28,198 /yr | - | -$0 |
Providence | RI | - Nat: $130,153 | $25,184 /yr | - | -$0 |
Clemson | SC | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,253 /yr | - | -$0 |
Columbia | SC | - Nat: $130,153 | $22,811 /yr | - | -$0 |
Rapid City | SD | - Nat: $130,153 | $20,183 /yr | - | -$0 |
Knoxville | TN | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,976 /yr | - | -$0 |
Nashville | TN | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,846 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,276 /yr | - | -$0 |
Denton | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,649 /yr | - | -$0 |
Houston | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,370 /yr | - | -$0 |
Dallas | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $40,892 /yr | - | -$0 |
College Station | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,315 /yr | - | -$0 |
The University of Texas at Arlington ⚠️ Caution: This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate its ROI. Arlington | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,951 /yr | - | -$0 |
Richardson | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,267 /yr | - | -$0 |
San Antonio | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $10,836 /yr | - | -$0 |
Lubbock | TX | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,070 /yr | - | -$0 |
Provo | UT | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,564 /yr | - | -$0 |
Logan | UT | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,936 /yr | - | -$0 |
Salt Lake City | UT | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,200 /yr | - | -$0 |
Williamsburg | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $19,096 /yr | - | -$0 |
Fairfax | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,915 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hampton | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $25,319 /yr | - | -$0 |
Norfolk | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,638 /yr | - | -$0 |
Blacksburg | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $24,953 /yr | - | -$0 |
Richmond | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $23,433 /yr | - | -$0 |
Charlottesville | VA | - Nat: $130,153 | $21,565 /yr | - | -$0 |
Pullman | WA | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,971 /yr | - | -$0 |
Morgantown | WV | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,634 /yr | - | -$0 |
Madison | WI | - Nat: $130,153 | $17,354 /yr | - | -$0 |
Milwaukee | WI | - Nat: $130,153 | $15,014 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stanford | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
West Lafayette | IN | - Nat: $130,153 | $14,600 /yr | - | -$0 |
Waterbury | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $10,875 /yr | - | -$0 |
Groton | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $13,807 /yr | - | -$0 |
Stamford | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,798 /yr | - | -$0 |
Bend | OR | - Nat: $130,153 | $18,048 /yr | - | -$0 |
Merced | CA | - Nat: $130,153 | $11,983 /yr | - | -$0 |
Hartford | CT | - Nat: $130,153 | $16,403 /yr | - | -$0 |
Austin | TX | $89,305 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $19,857 /yr | - | -$30k |
Tallahassee | FL | $72,482 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $11,297 /yr | - | -$129k |
College Park | MD | $72,899 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $15,678 /yr | - | -$142k |
Seattle | WA | $64,493 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $14,091 /yr | - | -$201k |
Philadelphia | PA | $69,338 Nat: $130,153 2yr Post-Grad | $28,699 /yr | - | -$216k |
Analysis Notes:
- Lifetime Value Added: Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median bachelor's degree holder, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes.
- Avg Net Price: The average price paid by students who receive federal financial aid (grants/loans).Note: For graduate programs, the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition and net price.
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.