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 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 $24,591. College Scorecard.
PU Physics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Indiana colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 PU'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 | $5,098 | $21,717 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $6,241 | $26,587 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $9,438 | $40,206 | 1.3 years |
| $75–110k | $18,177 | $77,434 | 2.4 years |
| $110k+ | $22,742 | $96,881 | 3.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (64% 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 ($67,505) minus $35,534 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $31,971 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 Indiana colleges
Every Indiana 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 Notre Dame | $110,029 | $21,500 | $26,780 | 95% |
| 2 | Purdue University | $67,505 | $21,948 | $14,600 | 83% |
24 more Indiana 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 PU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About PU
- Acceptance rate: 50% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 83% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $72,424
- Full cost breakdown · all 112 majors · overview
Related majors at PU
- Chemistry$67,680
- Geology / Earth Science—
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
PU Physics questions
How much do PU Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of Purdue University earn a median $67,505 four years after graduating and $30,203 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do PU Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of Purdue University is $21,948, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Where does PU rank for Physics in Indiana?
Of 2 Indiana colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, Purdue University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Notre Dame at $110,029.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $62,590 in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers.
Is PU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing PU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Purdue University Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).