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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find where physics graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send physics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Florida State University, our #1 for physics graduate salaries in Florida. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,659.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Florida earned it the #2 place for physics. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Physics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $71,362 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Florida came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying physics schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a public institution. After graduating, physics degree recipients from University Of North Florida typically earn about $59,535 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in physics will find them at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career physics graduates from University Of South Florida Main Campus make a median of around $78,010 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Central Florida earned it the #5 place for physics. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the physics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,826.
This list is compiled 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.