Bachelor's+13% vs national median1,676 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 36th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$45,785
middle 50%: $30,785 – $63,173
Median · 5 years out
$74,635
middle 50%: $56,106 – $100,494
Median · 10 years out
$111,214
middle 50%: $76,047 – $159,497
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical Sciences graduates from UIUC earn a median $46k after five years. Ten-year median salaries reach $111k.
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
≈ $6,832 total interest
Same major at other universities
Wheaton College
$74,959 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$74,912 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$74,833 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$74,828 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$74,815 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
McNeese State University
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Fairmont State University
$73,904 · 5 yrs out
Randolph - Macon College
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Elmhurst University
$73,565 · 5 yrs out
Stephen F Austin State University
$73,402 · 5 yrs out
Covenant College
$73,271 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$120,803 · 5 yrs out