U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 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 27% 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 $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU Physics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Colorado 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 CU'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 | $14,231 | $60,624 | 1.7 years |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% 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 ($75,764) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $35,154 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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado 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 Colorado Boulder | $75,764 | $20,635 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 2 | University of Northern Colorado | $73,186 | $27,000 | $17,760 | 51% |
12 more Colorado 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 CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Chemistry—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics$72,698
- Geology / Earth Science$60,453
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
CU Physics questions
How much do CU Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $75,764 four years after graduating and $41,874 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do CU Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $20,635, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Where does CU rank for Physics in Colorado?
Of 2 Colorado colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $81,450 in the Boulder, CO 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: “University of Colorado Boulder Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).