by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a physics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying physics schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose physics graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Arizona, our #1 for physics graduate salaries in the United States. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Early-career physics graduates from University Of Arizona make a median of around $131,926 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Oregon earned it the #2 place for physics. University Of Oregon is a public school located in the city of Eugene. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,276.
A rank of #3 makes Appalachian State University one of the highest-paying schools for physics. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Physics graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of about $79,066 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University Commerce produces some of the highest-paid graduates in physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Texas A And M University Commerce is a public school located in the town of Commerce. Early-career physics graduates from Texas A And M University Commerce make a median of around $65,563 per year.
New York University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $44,445 annually.
Explore the highest-paying physics schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries physics graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.