WhatGradsMake
Master's+27% vs national median95 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University

Ranked 10th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$62,224
middle 50%: $31,024 – $90,406
Median · 5 years out
$105,799
middle 50%: $61,602 – $151,973
Median · 10 years out
$111,872
middle 50%: $88,826 – $138,999

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 Virginia Commonwealth University's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $62,224 one year after graduating, rising to $111,872 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 27% above the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 10th 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,940 total interest

Same major at other universities

Christopher Newport University
$121,802 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$115,169 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$112,147 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$110,788 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$106,226 · 5 yrs out
Stephen F Austin State University
$103,464 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$101,795 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$100,394 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$98,392 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$98,232 · 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
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 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
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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