WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+10% vs national median37 grads tracked

Physics at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Ranked 31st of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,171
middle 50%: $22,255 – $56,170
Median · 5 years out
$83,557
middle 50%: $51,694 – $105,599
Median · 10 years out
$73,958
middle 50%: $55,111 – $110,004

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 South Carolina - Columbia's bachelor's program in Physics earn a median $31,171 one year after graduating, rising to $73,958 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% above the national median of $76,251 for this field, ranking 31st 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,646 total interest

Same major at other universities

Augsburg University
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
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 North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$83,113 · 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

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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