WhatGradsMake
Master's-8% vs national median95 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at University of Illinois Chicago

Ranked 91st of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$62,075
middle 50%: $44,906 – $76,186
Median · 5 years out
$76,701
middle 50%: $54,993 – $102,715
Median · 10 years out
$99,192
middle 50%: $73,614 – $132,952

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 University of Illinois Chicago's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $62,075 one year after graduating, rising to $99,192 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 91st 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
5.2 yrs
≈ $5,580 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Minnesota Duluth
$78,170 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$77,691 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$77,146 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$76,816 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$76,393 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$76,393 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$76,330 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Norfolk State University
$76,015 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$139,846 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out

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