Physics at Willamette University
Salem, OR · Bachelor's Degree · about 10 graduates a year
Willamette University graduates in physics earn 17% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 22% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Willamette University 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 | — |
| … | |||||
| 23 | Towson University Towson, MD | $90,457 | $79,387 | #46 | — |
| 24 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $89,944 | $96,523 | #11 | $70,150 |
| 25 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR | $89,685 | $105,686 | #6 | $58,870 |
| 26 | Willamette University Salem, OR | $89,506 | $90,033 | #18 | — |
| 27 | West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, WV | $89,430 | $105,801 | #5 | — |
| 28 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ | $88,207 | $90,634 | #16 | — |
| 29 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA | $87,856 | $79,943 | #43 | $64,045 |
Other Majors at Willamette University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $100,650 | $80,077 | #166 of 349 |
| Chemistry | $79,592 | — | #21 of 209 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $70,412 | $31,472 | #43 of 660 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,407 | $35,162 | #247 of 565 |
| Economics | $63,255 | $45,993 | #334 of 368 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,337 | — | #131 of 610 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $54,657 | $28,697 | #138 of 265 |
| English Language and Literature | $50,060 | $32,863 | #253 of 576 |
| Biology | $45,197 | $25,100 | #787 of 841 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $44,870 | — | #231 of 299 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,256 | — | #391 of 423 |
| Psychology | — | $29,678 | — |
| Sociology | — | $29,312 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $27,044 | — |
| History | — | $22,555 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Willamette University physics graduates make?
Graduates earn $89,506 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Willamette University rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, Willamette University ranks #26 by median pay four years after graduation, and #18 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at Willamette University worth it?
Its graduates earn 17% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $19,500.
← All data for Willamette University · 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.