WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+4% vs national median893 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Purdue University

Ranked 17th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$73,751
middle 50%: $57,113 – $109,698
Median · 5 years out
$110,871
middle 50%: $80,016 – $148,952
Median · 10 years out
$137,387
middle 50%: $98,833 – $183,093

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

Graduates of Purdue University's doctoral (research) program in Physical Sciences earn a median $73,751 one year after graduating, rising to $137,387 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $107,017 for this field, ranking 17th of 82 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
3.9 yrs
≈ $4,339 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$113,053 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$112,267 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$111,787 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$110,705 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$110,137 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$109,526 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$107,644 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$107,563 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$107,201 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out

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