WhatGradsMake
Master's-14% vs national median435 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Ranked 114th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$54,146
middle 50%: $43,166 – $70,184
Median · 5 years out
$71,278
middle 50%: $56,877 – $92,948
Median · 10 years out
$81,420
middle 50%: $64,071 – $114,494

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of South Carolina - Columbia's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $54,146 one year after graduating, rising to $81,420 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 114th of 132 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,332 total interest

Same major at other universities

Southeast Missouri State University
$73,442 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$73,181 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$72,371 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$69,890 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Environment Science & Forestry
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$67,746 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$67,412 · 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

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