# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics
- CIP code: 40.08 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 772 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 21 | not reported | $80,759 | not reported |
| Associate's | 187 | not reported | $73,770 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 772 | $54,120 | $78,863 | $19,369 |
| Master's | 244 | $93,491 | $111,173 | $65,372 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 191 | $93,145 | $163,024 | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Cambridge, MA | $131,025 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $118,649 | $10,000 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Notre Dame, IN | $110,029 | $15,500 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $14,067 |
| [Oregon State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-state-university-2035) | Corvallis, OR | $103,167 | $18,250 |
| [Whitworth University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/whitworth-university-3260) | Spokane, WA | $99,842 | not reported |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Worcester, MA | $99,165 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | San Luis Obispo, CA | $96,805 | not reported |
| [University of California-Irvine](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-irvine-uci-2883) | Irvine, CA | $96,215 | $10,605 |
| [George Mason University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-mason-university-1065) | Fairfax, VA | $96,138 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Physicists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicists): $172,250 median pay
- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Physics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physics-teachers-postsecondary): $100,310 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry): 1,132 colleges
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences): 444 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics): 112 colleges
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology): 83 colleges
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences): 45 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/