Master's+2% vs national median847 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Michigan
Ranked 48th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,270
middle 50%: $26,429 – $53,091
Median · 5 years out
$84,962
middle 50%: $58,593 – $123,890
Median · 10 years out
$119,554
middle 50%: $85,010 – $170,572
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
Physical Sciences master's graduates at the University of Michigan earn $33,270 in their first year. The median salary jumps to $84,962 after five years.
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
≈ $7,373 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Colorado Boulder
$86,111 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$85,965 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$85,898 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$85,775 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$85,523 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$85,473 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$83,858 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$83,321 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$83,297 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$83,137 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Michigan
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$240,526 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$193,286 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$162,338 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,020 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$144,865 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$139,695 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$137,498 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,470 · 5 yrs out