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 26% 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 $28,679. College Scorecard.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 Wisconsin-Madison'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 | $4,200 | $17,640 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $4,101 | $17,224 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $8,134 | $34,163 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $17,763 | $74,605 | 1.9 years |
| $110k+ | $27,292 | $114,626 | 2.9 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 ($77,380) minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $39,816 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 Wisconsin colleges
Every Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin-Eau Claire | $87,033 | — | $16,550 | 64% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | $85,638 | $30,000 | $14,054 | 57% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $80,594 | $26,292 | $16,210 | 71% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $77,380 | $20,500 | $17,354 | 90% |
14 more Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin-Madison, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Acceptance rate: 45% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 90% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $73,792
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Chemistry$64,734
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
- Geology / Earth Science$58,771
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics questions
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn a median $77,380 four years after graduating and $36,878 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison is $20,500, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a good school for Physics in Wisconsin?
On pay, Physics graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn $77,380 four years out, $5,736 below the median for the same major across 4 Wisconsin colleges ($83,116) and $1,189 below the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank for Physics in Wisconsin?
Of 4 Wisconsin colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 4th. The highest is University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at $87,033.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $64,080 in the Madison, WI 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 Wisconsin-Madison Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).