WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-8% vs national median355 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Carleton College

Ranked 247th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,868
middle 50%: $28,103 – $56,707
Median · 5 years out
$60,908
middle 50%: $38,350 – $91,109
Median · 10 years out
$98,621
middle 50%: $73,047 – $143,489

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Carleton College's bachelor's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $40,868 one year after graduating, rising to $98,621 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $66,057 for this field, ranking 247th of 321 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,041 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY at Fredonia
$61,268 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$61,161 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
$61,147 · 5 yrs out
University of South Dakota
$61,036 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$60,997 · 5 yrs out
Tarleton State University
$60,942 · 5 yrs out
Westfield State University
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Hampton University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Southern Oregon University
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
University of Mary Washington
$60,508 · 5 yrs out
Bethany Lutheran College
$60,442 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Carleton College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Statistics (Bachelor's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$102,242 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$97,751 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$79,570 · 5 yrs out
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's)
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy (Bachelor's)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's)
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy and Religious Studies (Bachelor's)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out

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