Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics
Education Levels of Physics Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 7,715 people earned their bachelor's degree in physics. This earns it the #62 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor'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 | 7,715 |
| Master’s Degree | 2,152 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 2,046 |
| Associate Degree | 1,298 |
| Graduate Certificate | 56 |
| Basic Certificate | 38 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
Earnings of Physics Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in physics is $47,156. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $36,733 and the high is $54,458.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in physics is $36,407. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $44,283 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $36,258.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $433.
Student Diversity
More men than women pursue bachelor's degrees in physics. About 74.5% of graduates in this field are male.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 5,746 |
| Women | 1,969 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of physics bachelor’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 684 |
| Black or African American | 260 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 966 |
| White | 4,341 |
| International Students | 876 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 588 |
Most Popular Physics Programs for Bachelor’s Degrees
There are 779 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in physics. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
University of Washington - Seattle Campus tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree. Roughly 48,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,524 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,514 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 195 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UW Seattle. Around 29% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 25% were women. University of Washington - Seattle Campus physics graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $47,156.
University of California - Santa Barbara is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Each year, around 26,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 151 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UCSB. Of these students, 17% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at University of California - Santa Barbara make a median salary of 47,156.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of California - Berkeley. Roughly 42,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 129 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UC Berkeley. Of these students, 25% were women and 46% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that UC Berkeley graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
The University of Texas at Austin is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Each year, around 50,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,678 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,012 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 94 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UT Austin. Around 45% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 28% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at The University of Texas at Austin make a median salary of 47,156.
University of Colorado Boulder is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Roughly 37,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,910 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,849 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 94 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from CU - Boulder. About 22% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Colorado Boulder physics graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $47,156.
University of California - Irvine is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Each year, around 36,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 93 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UC Irvine. Around 63% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 19% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at University of California - Irvine make a median salary of 47,156.
University of Maryland - College Park is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Each year, around 40,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,889 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,560 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 81 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UMCP. About 16% of this group were women, and 31% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UMCP graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
University of California - Los Angeles is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Roughly 44,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 79 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UCLA. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 18% were women. Data shows that UCLA graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in physics. Roughly 11,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,750 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $59,750 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 76 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from MIT. Around 52% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 34% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology make a median salary of 47,156.
The 10th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of California - Santa Cruz. Each year, around 19,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 75 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UC Santa Cruz. Of these students, 17% were women and 53% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that UC Santa Cruz graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
Ohio State University - Main Campus is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Roughly 61,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,826 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,515 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 66 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from Ohio State. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 25% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at Ohio State University - Main Campus make a median salary of 47,156.
The 12th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Arizona. Each year, around 45,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,546 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,718 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 65 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from University of Arizona. Around 31% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 27% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at University of Arizona make a median salary of 47,156.
The 12th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Chicago. Roughly 17,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,801 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $65,145 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 65 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UChicago. About 25% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UChicago graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in physics. Each year, around 52,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,496 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,116 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 65 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UMN Twin Cities. About 10% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UMN Twin Cities graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,156.
Stony Brook University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in physics. Roughly 26,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 64 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from SUNY Stony Brook. Around 35% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 9% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at Stony Brook University make a median salary of 47,156.
The 16th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Each year, around 52,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,768 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,545 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 63 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UIUC. About 13% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign make a median salary of 47,156.
The 16th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Each year, around 47,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,977 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $27,192 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 63 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from U-M. Of these students, 19% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor physics graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $47,156.
The 18th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Massachusetts Amherst. Roughly 31,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,591 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,723 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 61 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from UMass Amherst. About 14% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at University of Massachusetts Amherst make a median salary of 47,156.
Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in physics. Roughly 0 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $19,672 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,956 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 59 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from Penn State University Park. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 14% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus make a median salary of 47,156.
New York University comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in physics. Each year, around 52,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,438 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,826 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 56 people received their bachelor's degree in physics from NYU. Of these students, 33% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in physics at New York University make a median salary of 47,156.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to physics that offer bachelor’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 13,247 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 5,022 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 1,035 |
| Atmospheric Sciences | 828 |
| General Physical Sciences | 356 |
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.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By A. T. Service under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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