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.
College Factual analyzed 8 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.
Our analysis ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the top school for physics graduate earnings in New York. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Physics graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $111,815 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Albany came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Suny At Albany is a public school located in the city of Albany. Physics graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of about $65,574 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Ithaca College one of the highest-paying schools for physics. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,098.
Stony Brook University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Stony Brook University is a public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Early-career physics graduates from Stony Brook University make a median of around $85,544 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in physics will find them at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. After graduating, physics degree recipients from Cornell University typically earn about $50,933 annually.
Cuny City College landed the #6 spot for physics salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Physics graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of about $48,908 a year early in their careers.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for physics. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,374.
New York University came in at #8 for physics graduate earnings this year. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Physics graduates of New York University earn a median of about $24,802 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 8 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.