Bachelor's+2% vs national median79 grads tracked
Physics at Macalester College
Ranked 66th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,019
middle 50%: $22,409 – $54,522
Median · 5 years out
$77,901
middle 50%: $46,571 – $98,335
Median · 10 years out
$114,494
middle 50%: $79,032 – $156,159
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 Macalester College's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $36,019 one year after graduating, rising to $114,494 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 66th 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,480 total interest
Same major at other universities
Saint Olaf College
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$78,915 · 5 yrs out
Norfolk State University
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$78,305 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University of Denver
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$77,631 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$77,631 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$77,430 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$77,044 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$76,854 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Macalester College
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's)
$68,022 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$61,737 · 5 yrs out
Education (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
Education, General (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
International/Globalization Studies (Bachelor's)
$58,734 · 5 yrs out
Chemistry (Bachelor's)
$58,734 · 5 yrs out