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Doctor's Degree in Physics

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Doctor’s Degrees in Physics

1,958 Yearly Graduations
$79,371 Median Salary
21% Women
There are 192 schools in the United States where you can get your doctor's degree in physics. In recent years, the majority of the students getting degrees in this area were male, and 12 were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 45.7% of physics graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Physics Majors

During the most recent year for which data is available, 1,958 people earned their doctor's degree in physics. This earns it the #16 spot on the list of the most popular doctor's degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in physics at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 7,942
Master’s Degree 2,044
Doctor’s Degree 1,958
Associate Degree 1,395
Basic Certificate 63
Graduate Certificate 44
Undergraduate Certificate 1

Earnings of Physics Majors With Doctor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in physics is $79,371. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $77,449 and the high is $84,022.

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Student Debt

We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.

Student Diversity

More men than women pursue doctor's degrees in physics. About 78.9% of graduates in this field are male.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 1,544
Women 414
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The racial-ethnic distribution of physics doctor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 90
Black or African American 19
Hispanic or Latino 83
White 762
International Students 895
Other Races/Ethnicities 109
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There are 192 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in physics. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
43 Yearly Graduations
35% Women
11% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for physics students seekinga doctor's degree is Harvard University. Each year, around 30,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $52,659 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $52,456 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 43 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Harvard. Of these students, 35% were women and 11% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
41 Yearly Graduations
18% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Stanford University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Roughly 15,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,693 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,487 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 41 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Stanford. About 18% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
39 Yearly Graduations
18% Women
35% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 3rd most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of California - Berkeley. Each year, around 42,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,564 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,700 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 39 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UC Berkeley. Around 35% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 18% were women.

#4

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
37 Yearly Graduations
23% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 4th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Each year, around 11,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,590 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $57,590 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 37 people received their doctor's degree in physics from MIT. Of these students, 23% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#5

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
36 Yearly Graduations
31% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Arizona is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Roughly 45,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,210 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,348 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 36 people received their doctor's degree in physics from University of Arizona. About 31% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

32 Yearly Graduations
18% Women
15% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Roughly 52,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,542 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,891 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 32 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UIUC. About 18% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
31 Yearly Graduations
19% Women
3% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 7th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Colorado Boulder. Each year, around 37,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,004 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,251 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 31 people received their doctor's degree in physics from CU - Boulder. Of these students, 19% were women and 3% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

29 Yearly Graduations
18% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Washington - Seattle Campus is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Each year, around 48,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,189 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,004 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 29 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UW Seattle. Of these students, 18% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#9

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
28 Yearly Graduations
24% Women
14% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 9th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Roughly 47,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,454 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $25,894 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 28 people received their doctor's degree in physics from U-M. About 24% of this group were women, and 14% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

27 Yearly Graduations
32% Women
16% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Ohio State University - Main Campus comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in physics. Each year, around 61,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,525 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,092 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Ohio State. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 32% were women.

#10

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
27 Yearly Graduations
19% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 10th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Wisconsin - Madison. Each year, around 44,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,273 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UW - Madison. Around 13% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 19% were women.

#12

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
24 Yearly Graduations
29% Women
3% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Maryland - College Park is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Roughly 40,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,695 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,238 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 24 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UMCP. About 29% of this group were women, and 3% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
23 Yearly Graduations
17% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of California - Los Angeles is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Each year, around 44,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,564 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,700 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 23 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UCLA. About 17% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
23 Yearly Graduations
17% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Michigan State University. Roughly 49,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,437 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,202 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 23 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Michigan State. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 17% were women.

#15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
22 Yearly Graduations
17% Women
4% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in physics. Roughly 52,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,006 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,468 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 22 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UMN Twin Cities. About 17% of this group were women, and 4% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York
22 Yearly Graduations
17% Women
17% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Rochester comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in physics. Roughly 11,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,550 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $41,888 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 22 people received their doctor's degree in physics from University of Rochester. Around 17% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 17% were women.

#17

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
21 Yearly Graduations
15% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is California Institute of Technology. Each year, around 2,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,479 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,479 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Caltech. About 15% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

Rice University

Houston, Texas
21 Yearly Graduations
13% Women

Rice University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Roughly 7,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $51,634 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Rice.

#17

University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, California
21 Yearly Graduations
13% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of California - San Diego is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in physics. Roughly 39,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,564 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,700 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their doctor's degree in physics from UCSD. About 13% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#20

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
20 Yearly Graduations
17% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 20th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Cornell University. Each year, around 23,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,456 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $29,500 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 20 people received their doctor's degree in physics from Cornell. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 17% were women.

Physics Focus Areas

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
1,819
66
59
6
3

Below are some popular majors that are similar to physics that offer doctor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
3,210
738
222
209
151

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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