WhatGradsMake
Master's+17% vs national median176 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Western Illinois University

Ranked 19th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$53,926
middle 50%: $38,226 – $72,966
Median · 5 years out
$97,160
middle 50%: $76,393 – $121,935
Median · 10 years out
$87,772
middle 50%: $64,138 – $122,926

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 Western Illinois University's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $53,926 one year after graduating, rising to $87,772 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% above the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 19th 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
4.8 yrs
≈ $5,556 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$100,394 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$98,392 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$98,232 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$97,859 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$97,731 · 5 yrs out
Sacred Heart University
$97,110 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$96,448 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$96,190 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$95,660 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$94,274 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$78,199 · 5 yrs out

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