Master's-14% vs national median207 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Iowa
Ranked 111th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$54,158
middle 50%: $34,749 – $70,184
Median · 5 years out
$71,441
middle 50%: $57,815 – $94,389
Median · 10 years out
$91,987
middle 50%: $70,164 – $134,767
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 $54k in their first year. Ten-year median pay is $92k.
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
5.7 yrs
≈ $6,320 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Missouri - Columbia
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$74,055 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$73,181 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$72,371 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$71,278 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$69,890 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Iowa
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$197,724 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$173,339 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$167,710 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$157,015 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,198 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$144,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$121,670 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$114,999 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,625 · 5 yrs out