WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+4% vs national median842 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Ranked 16th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$73,324
middle 50%: $53,995 – $110,705
Median · 5 years out
$111,787
middle 50%: $77,901 – $148,951
Median · 10 years out
$141,496
middle 50%: $101,341 – $188,570

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill's doctoral (research) program in Physical Sciences earn a median $73,324 one year after graduating, rising to $141,496 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $107,017 for this field, ranking 16th of 82 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
3.9 yrs
≈ $4,346 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Connecticut
$115,982 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$115,783 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$115,698 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$114,494 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$113,053 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$112,267 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$110,871 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$110,705 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$110,137 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$109,526 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$107,644 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$107,563 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out

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