Bachelor's-10% vs national median96 grads tracked
Physics at Carleton College
Ranked 123rd of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$48,487
middle 50%: $29,502 – $71,899
Median · 5 years out
$68,521
middle 50%: $42,734 – $102,156
Median · 10 years out
$119,554
middle 50%: $83,791 – $150,144
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Carleton College's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $48,487 one year after graduating, rising to $119,554 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 123rd of 165 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 yrs
≈ $6,885 total interest
Same major at other universities
Montana State University Bozeman
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$68,867 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$68,560 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$68,249 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$68,249 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$67,987 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$67,887 · 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
Chemistry (Bachelor's)
$64,523 · 5 yrs out