Doctoral (Research)+15% vs national median856 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Arizona (The)
Ranked 8th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$85,965
middle 50%: $58,944 – $131,869
Median · 5 years out
$123,409
middle 50%: $86,814 – $164,014
Median · 10 years out
$144,939
middle 50%: $110,705 – $185,713
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical Sciences doctorate graduates earn a median of $85,965 in their first year. Earnings reach $144,939 by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
3.5 yrs
≈ $3,758 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$133,920 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$126,197 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$125,817 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$117,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$115,982 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$115,783 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$115,698 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$114,494 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$113,053 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Arizona (The)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$184,186 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$157,409 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,596 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,661 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,897 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$137,677 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$131,239 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$123,092 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,413 · 5 yrs out