Physics at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 60 graduates a year
University of California-San Diego graduates in physics earn 24% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 19% of one year’s pay at that point.
How University of California-San Diego Compares for Physics
All 107 colleges reporting physics earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | $131,025 | $115,381 | #2 | $54,773 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $118,649 | $112,929 | #3 | $50,933 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $110,029 | $118,041 | #1 | — |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $111,046 | #4 | $62,647 |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #7 | $48,169 |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #8 | $48,169 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA | $99,842 | $91,833 | #15 | $65,316 |
| 8 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA | $99,165 | $87,325 | #29 | — |
| 9 | Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY | $99,009 | $94,236 | #13 | — |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $96,805 | $88,086 | #22 | — |
| 11 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | $96,215 | $87,549 | #25 | $43,144 |
| 12 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | $96,138 | $87,542 | #26 | — |
| 13 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $96,043 | $87,393 | #28 | $50,219 |
| 14 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | $95,018 | $86,460 | #30 | $48,951 |
| 15 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | $94,543 | $100,892 | #9 | $53,504 |
| 16 | Utah State University Logan, UT | $93,461 | $88,579 | #20 | — |
| 17 | Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | $92,826 | $94,377 | #12 | $53,329 |
Other Physics Credentials at University of California-San Diego
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | $89,022 | $166,997 | — |
Other Majors at University of California-San Diego by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do University of California-San Diego physics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $48,951 one year after graduating and $95,018 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does University of California-San Diego rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, University of California-San Diego ranks #14 by median pay four years after graduation, and #30 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at University of California-San Diego worth it?
Its graduates earn 24% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $18,000.
← All data for University of California-San Diego · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.