Physics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Physics is a foundational discipline dedicated to understanding the fundamental principles that govern the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the vast structures of space and time. This program equips students with analytical rigor and experimental expertise to explore the behavior of matter and energy through theoretical frameworks and empirical investigation.
- Classical and Modern Physics: Examines the core theories of motion, forces, and energy as established by Newtonian mechanics, while also exploring advanced concepts that emerged in the 20th century, including relativity and quantum mechanics.
- Electricity and Magnetism: Investigates the interactions between electric charges and magnetic fields, including electromagnetic induction, field theory, and the behavior of currents in circuits.
- Thermodynamics: Focuses on energy transfer, heat, entropy, and the laws governing the behavior of systems in thermal equilibrium and non-equilibrium states.
- Mechanics: Studies the motion of objects and the forces that cause or influence this motion, covering both translational and rotational dynamics across macroscopic and microscopic scales.
- Wave Properties: Explores the behavior of waves—such as sound, light, and matter waves—emphasizing interference, diffraction, resonance, and wave-particle duality.
- Nuclear Processes: Analyzes the structure and interactions within atomic nuclei, including radioactive decay, nuclear fission and fusion, and applications in energy and medicine.
- Relativity and Quantum Theory: Delves into Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity, as well as the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, which redefine space, time, and reality at extreme scales.
- Quantitative Methods: Develops advanced mathematical tools and computational techniques essential for modeling physical systems, solving complex equations, and analyzing experimental data.
- Laboratory Methods: Provides hands-on training in experimental design, instrumentation, data acquisition, error analysis, and scientific reporting to validate theoretical predictions through direct observation.
Physics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Physics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Physics degrees, including Physicists, Natural Sciences Managers and Physics Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,208,340 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicists 19-2012 | $166,290 | $80,020 - $239,200 | 21,340 | $79.95 |
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1054 | $97,360 | $54,880 - $169,740 | 13,590 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
Physics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $70,185 in Louisiana to $152,975 in California—a 118% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,208,340 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Physics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Physics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Physics is found at University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (213 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (174 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (166 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (152 graduates), and University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (150 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,283 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
213 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
174 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
166 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
152 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
150 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
133 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
128 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
119 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Harvard University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
110 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
102 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
93 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
93 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
85 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
|
83 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
82 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
71 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
65 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Pasadena, California | Private | caltech.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
57 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
55 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Associate's
|
46 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Associate's
|
36 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
36 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
33 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
|
32 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
|
32 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
32 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Physics programs
How much can I earn with a Physics degree?
Salaries for Physics graduates vary by role and location. Physicists earn a median of $166,290 annually, while Natural Sciences Managers earn around $161,180. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $152,975 compared to $70,185 in Louisiana. Approximately 1,208,340 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Physics programs?
Currently 796 accredited institutions offer Physics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (213 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (174 graduates), and University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (166 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Physics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 8,526 in 2010 to a peak of 13,291 in 2020, before declining slightly to 11,944 in 2023-24. This represents a 40% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Physics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Physicists, Natural Sciences Managers, and Physics Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 1,208,340 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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