WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+20% vs national median164 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University

Ranked 4th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$63,240
middle 50%: $52,165 – $85,965
Median · 5 years out
$128,182
middle 50%: $95,189 – $173,610
Median · 10 years out
$138,999
middle 50%: $98,392 – $170,055

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University's doctoral (research) program in Physical Sciences earn a median $63,240 one year after graduating, rising to $138,999 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 20% above the national median of $107,017 for this field, ranking 4th of 82 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 yrs
≈ $4,580 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
$191,993 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$133,920 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$126,197 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$125,817 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$123,409 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$117,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$115,982 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,709 · 5 yrs out

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