Bachelor's+18% vs national median283 grads tracked
Physics at Portland State University
Ranked 9th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$63,610
middle 50%: $41,863 – $87,452
Median · 5 years out
$90,181
middle 50%: $63,874 – $116,180
Median · 10 years out
$116,180
middle 50%: $81,357 – $148,888
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 Portland State University's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $63,610 one year after graduating, rising to $116,180 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 18% above the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 9th 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
4.7 yrs
≈ $5,156 total interest
Same major at other universities
Fort Lewis College
$98,392 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$95,830 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$94,869 · 5 yrs out
Francis Marion University
$92,467 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Elmhurst University
$89,645 · 5 yrs out
Wheaton College
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$89,421 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$88,614 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Portland State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out