Bright outlook
Science
Physicists
- Median pay
- $172,250
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Physics
CIP40.08
772 colleges offer Physics. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 772
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $78,863
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,369
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 21
- Associate's
- 187
- Bachelor's
- 772
- Master's
- 244
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 1
- Doctoral
- 191
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 22
What it covers
About Physics
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 40.08.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 40.08.
- Physics, General
- Atomic/Molecular Physics
- Elementary Particle Physics
- Plasma and High-Temperature Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- Optics/Optical Sciences
- Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
- Acoustics
- Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 21 | $80,7594 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Associate's | 187 | $73,7704 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 772 | $78,8634 yrs after · 98 colleges | $19,36972 colleges |
| Master's | 244 | $111,1734 yrs after · 7 colleges | $65,3722 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 191 | $163,0244 yrs after · 7 colleges | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 22 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Physics graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 70 graduates
$131,025
debt not reported
- 2
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$118,649
debt $10,000
- 3
University of Notre Dame-South Bend
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · 30 graduates
$110,029
debt $15,500
- 4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public · 35 graduates
$103,477
debt $14,067
- 5
Corvallis, OR · Public · 22 graduates
$103,167
debt $18,250
- 6
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofit · 10 graduates
$99,842
debt not reported
- 7
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates
$99,165
debt not reported
- 8
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 34 graduates
$96,805
debt not reported
- 9
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public · 67 graduates
$96,215
debt $10,605
- 10
Fairfax, VA · Public · 19 graduates
$96,138
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Physics by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Education
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $100,310
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Median pay
- $72,040
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
More in Physical Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Physics
How many colleges offer Physics?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Physics at these degree levels: certificate (21 colleges), associate's (187 colleges), bachelor's (772 colleges), master's (244 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (1 college), doctoral (191 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (22 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Physics graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Physics earn $78,863 a year four years after finishing, across 98 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Physics graduates earn the most?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Physics: $131,025 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.