Bachelor's-1% vs national median240 grads tracked
Physics at Illinois State University
Ranked 86th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$50,070
middle 50%: $36,591 – $67,042
Median · 5 years out
$75,253
middle 50%: $56,524 – $99,460
Median · 10 years out
$101,595
middle 50%: $71,961 – $125,945
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 Illinois State University's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $50,070 one year after graduating, rising to $101,595 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 86th 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
5.7 yrs
≈ $6,476 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of Mary Washington
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$75,586 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$75,548 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$75,224 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Roanoke College
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$74,805 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$74,560 · 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