WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+4% vs national median730 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Illinois State University

Ranked 97th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,442
middle 50%: $33,216 – $60,757
Median · 5 years out
$68,996
middle 50%: $52,696 – $90,815
Median · 10 years out
$88,364
middle 50%: $65,711 – $120,730

Salary trajectory

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

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

Graduates of Illinois State University's bachelor's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $46,442 one year after graduating, rising to $88,364 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $66,057 for this field, ranking 97th of 321 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
6.2 yrs
≈ $7,060 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$69,466 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University Southeast
$69,441 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$69,365 · 5 yrs out
Wofford College
$69,325 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$69,209 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mesa University
$68,911 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$68,736 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Randolph College
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$68,373 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Illinois State University

Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out

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