WhatGradsMake
Master's+8% vs national median177 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at West Virginia University

Ranked 37th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$68,928
middle 50%: $45,023 – $121,915
Median · 5 years out
$89,527
middle 50%: $64,699 – $150,585
Median · 10 years out
$106,692
middle 50%: $85,178 – $154,543

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 West Virginia University's master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $68,928 one year after graduating, rising to $106,692 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 37th 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
4.5 yrs
≈ $4,880 total interest

Same major at other universities

Montana Technological University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$91,706 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$91,603 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$90,933 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$89,289 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$87,070 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$86,111 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$85,965 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at West Virginia University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$156,627 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,069 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,321 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$128,840 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$122,766 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,203 · 5 yrs out

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