by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a physics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find where physics graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose physics graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Whitworth University the top school for physics graduate earnings in Washington. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spokane. After graduating, physics degree recipients from Whitworth University typically earn about $65,316 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned it the #2 place for physics. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus typically earn about $82,775 annually.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in physics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Physics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $82,775 a year early in their careers.
Central Washington University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Central Washington University is a public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Physics graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $56,540 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their physics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.