Master's+4% vs national median321 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Colorado Boulder
Ranked 42nd of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$65,435
middle 50%: $43,317 – $101,444
Median · 5 years out
$86,111
middle 50%: $62,901 – $132,057
Median · 10 years out
$110,857
middle 50%: $80,382 – $164,045
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical Sciences master's graduates earn a median of $65,435 in their first year. This figure grows to $110,857 after ten years.
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
4.8 yrs
≈ $5,139 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$90,933 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$89,289 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$87,070 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$85,965 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$85,898 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$85,775 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$85,473 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Colorado Boulder
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$179,121 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$162,413 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$136,557 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,060 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,503 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$121,397 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$118,475 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$115,546 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,642 · 5 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,066 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out