WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-17% vs national median101 grads tracked

Physics at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 146th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,093
middle 50%: $32,695 – $66,707
Median · 5 years out
$63,214
middle 50%: $48,943 – $83,858
Median · 10 years out
$85,826
middle 50%: $62,571 – $108,603

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 Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $46,093 one year after graduating, rising to $85,826 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 146th 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
6.5 yrs
≈ $7,415 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$65,534 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$65,282 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$63,214 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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