Master's-19% vs national median160 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at Montana State University Bozeman
Ranked 119th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$54,365
middle 50%: $35,940 – $79,787
Median · 5 years out
$67,746
middle 50%: $50,881 – $96,310
Median · 10 years out
$81,843
middle 50%: $65,458 – $109,654
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 start with a $54k median salary. Earnings rise to $82k by their tenth year in the workforce.
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
≈ $6,465 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Iowa
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$71,278 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$69,890 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$67,412 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Montana State University Bozeman
Engineering (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,220 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$103,837 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,183 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$97,845 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$97,845 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$95,750 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,419 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,322 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$92,179 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,156 · 5 yrs out