Bachelor's-2% vs national median152 grads tracked
Physics at Appalachian State University
Ranked 95th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,421
middle 50%: $23,719 – $53,485
Median · 5 years out
$74,415
middle 50%: $53,231 – $99,475
Median · 10 years out
$98,269
middle 50%: $66,108 – $133,355
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 Appalachian State University's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $34,421 one year after graduating, rising to $98,269 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 95th 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,820 total interest
Same major at other universities
Roanoke College
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$74,805 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$74,560 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$74,457 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$74,457 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$73,594 · 5 yrs out
College of Charleston
$73,075 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$73,075 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Appalachian State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,901 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,245 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$81,200 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$80,298 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$79,669 · 5 yrs out
Insurance (Bachelor's)
$76,492 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$74,662 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$74,629 · 5 yrs out