Master’s Degrees in Physics
Education Levels of Physics Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 2,152 people earned their master's degree in physics. This makes it the 70th most popular master's degree program in the country.
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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in physics is $79,066. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $65,563 to a high of $103,672.
Student Debt
The data on debt ranges for physics majors who have their master's degree is not available.
Student Diversity
More men than women pursue master's degrees in physics. About 74.1% of graduates in this field are male.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 1,595 |
Women | 557 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of physics master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 142 |
Black or African American | 42 |
Hispanic or Latino | 162 |
White | 966 |
International Students | 714 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 126 |
Most Popular Physics Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 248 colleges that offer a master’s degree in physics. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for physics students seekinga master's degree is New York University. Roughly 52,700 attend the school each year. 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, 55 people received their master's degree in physics from NYU. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 32% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at New York University make a median salary of 79,066.
University of Arizona comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 45,600 attend the school each year. 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, 54 people received their master's degree in physics from University of Arizona. Around 30% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 25% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at University of Arizona make a median salary of 79,066.
University of Rochester is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 11,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,150 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,083 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 52 people received their master's degree in physics from University of Rochester. Around 15% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 28% were women. University of Rochester physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
University of Wisconsin - Madison comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 44,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,644 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 42 people received their master's degree in physics from UW - Madison. About 28% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UW - Madison graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $79,066.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 48,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,524 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,514 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 38 people received their master's degree in physics from UW Seattle. Around 39% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 32% were women. University of Washington - Seattle Campus physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
University of Oregon comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 21,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,240 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,659 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 37 people received their master's degree in physics from UO. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 30% were women. University of Oregon physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
University of California - Santa Barbara is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 26,100 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, 37 people received their master's degree in physics from UCSB. About 22% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at University of California - Santa Barbara make a median salary of 79,066.
The 8th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master'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 $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, 33 people received their master's degree in physics from CU - Boulder. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 29% were women. University of Colorado Boulder physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
Yale University comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 12,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,700 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,300 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 32 people received their master's degree in physics from Yale. Of these students, 14% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Yale graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $79,066.
The 9th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Pennsylvania. Each year, around 26,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,620 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $41,544 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 32 people received their master's degree in physics from UPenn. About 38% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Pennsylvania physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
Brown University comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 9,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $65,656 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $65,656 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 30 people received their master's degree in physics from Brown. Of these students, 22% were women and 7% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at Brown University make a median salary of 79,066.
The 12th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master'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 $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 29 people received their master's degree in physics from UC Berkeley. Of these students, 22% were women and 6% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of California - Berkeley physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 47,900 attend the school each year. 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, 27 people received their master's degree in physics from U-M. Of these students, 38% were women and 50% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor make a median salary of 79,066.
Harvard University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 30,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,269 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,032 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 27 people received their master's degree in physics from Harvard. About 33% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Harvard graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $79,066.
The 15th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is Johns Hopkins University. Roughly 28,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,840 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,840 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 26 people received their master's degree in physics from Johns Hopkins. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 30% were women. Johns Hopkins University physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
The 15th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is Stony Brook University. Each year, around 26,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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, 26 people received their master's degree in physics from SUNY Stony Brook. Of these students, 3% were women and 13% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at Stony Brook University make a median salary of 79,066.
Carnegie Mellon University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 13,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,260 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,496 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 25 people received their master's degree in physics from Carnegie Mellon. About 40% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in physics at Carnegie Mellon University make a median salary of 79,066.
Northwestern University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 22,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,887 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $52,698 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 23 people received their master's degree in physics from Northwestern. About 38% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Northwestern University physics graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $79,066.
Cornell University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 23,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $65,204 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $29,500 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 23 people received their master's degree in physics from Cornell. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 30% were women. Data shows that Cornell graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $79,066.
Duke University is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 16,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,620 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their master's degree in physics from Duke. About 30% of this group were women, and 6% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Duke graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $79,066.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to physics that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Chemistry | 2,413 |
Geological & Earth Sciences | 1,612 |
Materials Sciences | 279 |
Atmospheric Sciences | 258 |
Astronomy & Astrophysics | 253 |
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.