WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median49 grads tracked

Physics at University of Colorado Denver

Ranked 139th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,163
middle 50%: $28,392 – $50,995
Median · 5 years out
$65,986
middle 50%: $40,342 – $91,987
Median · 10 years out
$103,464
middle 50%: $66,514 – $184,759

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physics (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of Colorado Denver's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $39,163 one year after graduating, rising to $103,464 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 139th of 165 reporting programs.

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
6.6 yrs
≈ $7,867 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of North Texas
$66,850 · 5 yrs out
Southern Oregon University
$66,779 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$66,619 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$65,534 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$65,282 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$63,610 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Colorado Denver

Medicine (Doctorate)
$178,970 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,373 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$152,313 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$148,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$147,946 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$127,868 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,737 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,754 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$115,698 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$110,938 · 5 yrs out

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