WhatGradsMake
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

Graduates of University of Michigan's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $33,270 one year after graduating, rising to $119,554 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 48th 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
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

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