WhatGradsMake
Master's-19% vs national median129 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 121st of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$54,898
middle 50%: $37,439 – $68,316
Median · 5 years out
$67,042
middle 50%: $45,075 – $82,551
Median · 10 years out
$102,715
middle 50%: $75,444 – $131,835

Salary trajectory

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

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

Graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $54,898 one year after graduating, rising to $102,715 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 19% below the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 121st of 132 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,442 total interest

Same major at other universities

North Carolina Central University
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$69,890 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Environment Science & Forestry
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$67,746 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$67,412 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$60,076 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$168,009 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$156,616 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,805 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,993 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,392 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$102,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$98,753 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$96,425 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$94,896 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,766 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$89,231 · 5 yrs out

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