Bachelor's-5% vs national median594 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 215th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,093
middle 50%: $27,905 – $51,280
Median · 5 years out
$62,434
middle 50%: $47,210 – $83,236
Median · 10 years out
$85,513
middle 50%: $62,260 – $135,371
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical science majors earn $40k in their first year. By year 10, median salaries reach $86k.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,050 total interest
Same major at other universities
Concord University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$62,711 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$62,663 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$62,576 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern State University
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
CUNY York College
$62,393 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$62,298 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$62,287 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$62,238 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$62,208 · 5 yrs out
Christopher Newport University
$62,192 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out