Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Bachelor's Degree · about 79 graduates a year
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates in physics earn 71% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 14% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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 | — |
Other Majors at Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $225,141 | $154,492 | #2 of 349 |
| Mathematics | $174,951 | $109,288 | #2 of 309 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $161,118 | $117,345 | #3 of 258 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $147,998 | $103,135 | #1 of 476 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $131,967 | $83,957 | #1 of 318 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | — | $126,153 | — |
| Chemical Engineering | $122,093 | $80,139 | #1 of 158 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $114,620 | — | #5 of 59 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $111,738 | $70,696 | #8 of 118 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $99,843 | — |
| Materials Engineering | — | $65,919 | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | — | $48,125 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $54,773 one year after graduating and $131,025 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Massachusetts Institute of Technology rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks #1 by median pay four years after graduation, and #2 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology worth it?
Its graduates earn 71% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $18,500.
← All data for Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 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.