Bachelor's+6% vs national median205 grads tracked
Physics at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 48th of 165 bachelor's programs in Physics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$49,247
middle 50%: $28,073 – $75,914
Median · 5 years out
$80,624
middle 50%: $46,571 – $113,032
Median · 10 years out
$97,751
middle 50%: $71,899 – $148,452
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physics graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median first-year salary of $49k. By year 10, earnings typically rise to $98k.
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
5.5 yrs
≈ $6,336 total interest
Same major at other universities
Stephen F Austin State University
$81,295 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$81,252 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$81,223 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$81,043 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$81,043 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Hampden Sydney College
$80,540 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$80,205 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$79,641 · 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
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