Bachelor's+11% vs national median60 grads tracked
Physics at Eastern Illinois University
Ranked 24th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$47,119
middle 50%: $28,199 – $71,212
Median · 5 years out
$84,962
middle 50%: $55,817 – $105,999
Median · 10 years out
$98,712
middle 50%: $75,281 – $118,992
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 Eastern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $47,119 one year after graduating, rising to $98,712 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 11% above the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 24th 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
5.4 yrs
≈ $6,336 total interest
Same major at other universities
Loyola University Chicago
$87,371 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$87,097 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$86,835 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$85,760 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$85,137 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
SUNY at Fredonia
$84,083 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$84,083 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$84,025 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Eastern Illinois University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$97,476 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$93,454 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$88,374 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$86,616 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$75,747 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$73,331 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$70,826 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$70,402 · 5 yrs out
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's)
$70,012 · 5 yrs out