Bachelor's-3% vs national median53 grads tracked
Physics at University of Illinois Chicago
Ranked 96th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,033
middle 50%: $29,704 – $54,757
Median · 5 years out
$74,301
middle 50%: $57,372 – $100,394
Median · 10 years out
$88,474
middle 50%: $59,353 – $136,177
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 University of Illinois Chicago's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $42,033 one year after graduating, rising to $88,474 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 96th 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,170 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Lewis University
$74,457 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$74,457 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$74,415 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$73,594 · 5 yrs out
College of Charleston
$73,075 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$73,075 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$72,585 · 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