U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 46% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,490.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $26,425. College Scorecard.
NCSU Physics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NCSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $6,382 | $27,060 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $8,758 | $37,134 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $13,334 | $56,536 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $20,087 | $85,169 | 4.7 years |
| $110k+ | $24,652 | $104,524 | 5.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (68% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Physics graduates 4 years after graduating ($51,590) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $18,074 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Physics at North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Physics graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $103,477 | $19,200 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $89,944 | $28,750 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 3 | Appalachian State University | $82,399 | $22,096 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $51,590 | $23,490 | $17,303 | 85% |
16 more North Carolina colleges offer Physics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Physics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NCSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NCSU
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 85% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,758
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at NCSU
- Chemistry$76,978
- Geology / Earth Science$61,023
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
NCSU Physics questions
How much do NCSU Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median $51,590 four years after graduating and $43,740 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do NCSU Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh is $23,490, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is NCSU a good school for Physics in North Carolina?
On pay, Physics graduates of North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn $51,590 four years out, $34,582 below the median for the same major across 4 North Carolina colleges ($86,172) and $26,979 below the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NCSU rank for Physics in North Carolina?
Of 4 North Carolina colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranks 4th. The highest is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at $103,477.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $60,380 in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “North Carolina State University at Raleigh Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).