U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 25% 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 $33,642. College Scorecard.
UIUC 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 UIUC'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 | $2,038 | $8,458 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $5,373 | $22,298 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $7,982 | $33,125 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $15,152 | $62,881 | 1.4 years |
| $110k+ | $28,761 | $119,358 | 2.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% 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 ($81,077) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $45,280 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 | Illinois State University | $81,949 | — | $19,398 | 65% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $81,077 | $20,500 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 3 | Lewis University | $76,122 | — | $17,028 | 67% |
29 more Illinois 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 UIUC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UIUC
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 85% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $81,054
- Full cost breakdown · all 102 majors · overview
Related majors at UIUC
- Chemistry$70,197
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Geology / Earth Science$68,201
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$71,425
UIUC Physics questions
How much do UIUC Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median $81,077 four years after graduating and $51,019 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do UIUC Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $20,500, about 25% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is UIUC a good school for Physics in Illinois?
On pay, Physics graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn $81,077 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Illinois colleges ($81,077) and $2,508 above the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does UIUC rank for Physics in Illinois?
Of 3 Illinois colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 2nd. The highest is Illinois State University at $81,949.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,480 in the Champaign-Urbana, IL 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).