WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+7% vs national median1,126 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 73rd of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,073
middle 50%: $29,744 – $61,103
Median · 5 years out
$70,559
middle 50%: $50,163 – $93,451
Median · 10 years out
$103,266
middle 50%: $69,798 – $144,815

Salary trajectory

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

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

Graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's bachelor's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $44,073 one year after graduating, rising to $103,266 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $66,057 for this field, ranking 73rd of 321 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
≈ $7,170 total interest

Same major at other universities

Longwood University
$70,944 · 5 yrs out
College of Saint Benedict
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Shenandoah University
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$70,792 · 5 yrs out
Monmouth College
$70,679 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$70,660 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$70,527 · 5 yrs out
Hanover College
$70,527 · 5 yrs out
University of Indianapolis
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$70,422 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$70,412 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Illinois University
$70,402 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out

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