Bachelor's-17% vs national median137 grads tracked
Physics at Indiana University - Bloomington
Ranked 145th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,548
middle 50%: $26,411 – $51,487
Median · 5 years out
$63,610
middle 50%: $42,100 – $90,406
Median · 10 years out
$93,789
middle 50%: $60,793 – $145,871
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physics majors earn a median of $39k in their first year. By the tenth year, salaries reach $94k.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,102 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Colorado Denver
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$65,534 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$65,282 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$65,081 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$63,214 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$63,214 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$62,192 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$61,121 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Indiana University - Bloomington
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$185,244 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$162,623 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$154,557 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$150,773 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Master's)
$132,457 · 5 yrs out
Optometry (Doctorate)
$120,596 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$119,345 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Doctorate)
$115,056 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$109,526 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$109,070 · 5 yrs out