U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 20 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 37% 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 $34,549. College Scorecard.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst 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 University of Massachusetts-Amherst'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 | $10,164 | $41,672 | 1.3 years |
| $30–48k | $10,456 | $42,870 | 1.3 years |
| $48–75k | $12,932 | $53,021 | 1.6 years |
| $75–110k | $18,964 | $77,752 | 2.4 years |
| $110k+ | $30,793 | $126,251 | 3.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (76% 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 ($72,596) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,716 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 Massachusetts colleges
Every Massachusetts 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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $131,025 | $18,500 | $20,111 | 96% |
| 2 | College of the Holy Cross | $99,165 | — | $38,782 | 87% |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $91,438 | $22,177 | $17,163 | 65% |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $72,596 | $27,000 | $22,383 | 83% |
26 more Massachusetts 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 University of Massachusetts-Amherst, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 83% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $71,631
- Full cost breakdown · all 73 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Chemistry$78,373
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Geology / Earth Science—
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Physics questions
How much do University of Massachusetts-Amherst Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst earn a median $72,596 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do University of Massachusetts-Amherst Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst is $27,000, about 37% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is University of Massachusetts-Amherst a good school for Physics in Massachusetts?
On pay, Physics graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst earn $72,596 four years out, $22,706 below the median for the same major across 4 Massachusetts colleges ($95,302) and $5,973 below the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Massachusetts-Amherst rank for Physics in Massachusetts?
Of 4 Massachusetts colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, University of Massachusetts-Amherst ranks 4th. The highest is Massachusetts Institute of Technology at $131,025.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $81,660 in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA 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 Massachusetts-Amherst Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-massachusetts-amherst/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).