Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Bachelor's Degree · about 42 graduates a year
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates in physics earn 7% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 25% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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 | — |
| … | |||||
| 40 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | $82,431 | $85,333 | #31 | — |
| 41 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC | $82,399 | $88,426 | #21 | — |
| 42 | Illinois State University Normal, IL | $81,949 | $80,514 | #42 | — |
| 43 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | $81,840 | $77,895 | #49 | $60,348 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #36 | $43,461 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #37 | $43,461 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Abington, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #38 | $43,461 |
Other Majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $141,528 | $104,943 | #42 of 349 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $125,531 | $94,722 | #1 of 27 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $115,100 | $85,172 | #65 of 459 |
| Mathematics | $105,768 | $80,196 | #20 of 309 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $104,596 | $83,412 | #66 of 258 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $103,306 | $74,427 | #18 of 118 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $99,713 | $47,925 | #30 of 1176 |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,679 | $78,263 | #61 of 158 |
| Industrial Engineering | $98,509 | $74,787 | #45 of 94 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,750 | $73,213 | #35 of 59 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $92,952 | $73,833 | #132 of 318 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $87,358 | $36,191 | #6 of 299 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $87,239 | $77,014 | #12 of 12 |
| Civil Engineering | $86,794 | $71,790 | #99 of 233 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $83,958 | — | #10 of 207 |
| Materials Engineering | $82,947 | $66,927 | #32 of 34 |
| Architecture | $75,551 | $54,334 | #11 of 78 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute physics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $60,348 one year after graduating and $81,840 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks #43 by median pay four years after graduation, and #49 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute worth it?
Its graduates earn 7% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $20,270.
← All data for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 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.