Doctoral (Research)+18% vs national median1,101 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 6th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$81,774
middle 50%: $58,770 – $130,975
Median · 5 years out
$126,011
middle 50%: $84,328 – $167,082
Median · 10 years out
$155,297
middle 50%: $114,556 – $211,225
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Research doctorate graduates earn a median of $82k in year one. Salaries reach $155k by the tenth year.
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
3.6 yrs
≈ $3,882 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
$191,993 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$133,920 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$126,197 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$125,817 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$123,409 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$117,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$115,982 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$115,783 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$115,698 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$114,494 · 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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 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
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