WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+9% vs national median261 grads tracked

Physics at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Ranked 32nd of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,948
middle 50%: $29,046 – $73,773
Median · 5 years out
$83,113
middle 50%: $55,261 – $126,300
Median · 10 years out
$126,951
middle 50%: $80,301 – $189,459

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 University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $46,948 one year after graduating, rising to $126,951 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 32nd 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
5.4 yrs
≈ $6,407 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY at Fredonia
$84,083 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$84,083 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$84,025 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$82,929 · 5 yrs out
Furman University
$82,749 · 5 yrs out
Georgia College & State University
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$82,497 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$82,300 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oneonta
$82,185 · 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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