Master's-4% vs national median171 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Ranked 69th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$56,272
middle 50%: $40,243 – $68,904
Median · 5 years out
$79,787
middle 50%: $62,548 – $100,094
Median · 10 years out
$96,105
middle 50%: $67,174 – $127,359
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
Master's degree holders in Physical Sciences from Iowa State University earn $56k in year one. Median earnings hit $96k 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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,873 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Bloomington
$81,917 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$81,817 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$81,561 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$81,462 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$80,376 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$79,607 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$79,588 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$79,368 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$147,324 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,317 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$118,825 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$116,045 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$113,881 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,597 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$104,160 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,015 · 5 yrs out