U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 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 33% 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 $21,590. College Scorecard.
Portland State University 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 Portland State University'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 | $7,655 | $33,835 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $7,752 | $34,264 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $8,981 | $39,696 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $12,993 | $57,429 | 1.1 years |
| $110k+ | $19,112 | $84,475 | 1.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($87,488) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OR (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $50,939 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 Oregon colleges
Every Oregon 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 | Oregon State University | $103,167 | $25,410 | $19,604 | 70% |
| 2 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $103,167 | $25,410 | $18,048 | 56% |
| 3 | Willamette University | $89,506 | $22,989 | $25,121 | 71% |
| 4 | Portland State University | $87,488 | $29,070 | $9,552 | 53% |
| 5 | University of Oregon | $75,160 | — | $22,182 | 72% |
6 more Oregon 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 Portland State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Portland State University
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,906
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Portland State University
- Chemistry$70,948
- Geology / Earth Science$57,932
Portland State University Physics questions
How much do Portland State University Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of Portland State University earn a median $87,488 four years after graduating and $62,749 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do Portland State University Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of Portland State University is $29,070, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is Portland State University a good school for Physics in Oregon?
On pay, Physics graduates of Portland State University earn $87,488 four years out, $2,018 below the median for the same major across 5 Oregon colleges ($89,506) and $8,919 above the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Portland State University rank for Physics in Oregon?
Of 5 Oregon colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, Portland State University ranks 4th. The highest is Oregon State University at $103,167.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $84,120 in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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: “Portland State University Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/portland-state-university/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).