Bachelor's-21% vs national median124 grads tracked
Physics at University of Iowa
Ranked 154th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,408
middle 50%: $28,969 – $55,464
Median · 5 years out
$60,272
middle 50%: $36,063 – $82,185
Median · 10 years out
$85,856
middle 50%: $65,035 – $124,613
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 Iowa's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $37,408 one year after graduating, rising to $85,856 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 21% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 154th 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
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,486 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$62,192 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$61,121 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$60,738 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$55,665 · 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