Master’s Degrees in Physics
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Education Levels of Physics Majors
During the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,949 students earned their master's degree in physics. This earns it the #70 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in physics at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1,949 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 1,752 |
| Graduate Certificate | 26 |
Earnings of Physics Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in physics is $83,811. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $74,181 to a high of $99,060.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for physics students who are master's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More men than women pursue master's degrees in physics. About 76.7% of graduates in this field are male.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 1,495 |
| Women | 454 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of physics master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 96 |
| Black or African American | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 148 |
| White | 853 |
| International Students | 722 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 95 |
Most Popular Physics Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 248 colleges that offer a master’s degree in physics. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
New York University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree. Each year, around 52,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,770 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,982 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 55 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at NYU. Around 15% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 18% were women.
University of Arizona is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 45,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,990 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,106 per year. The physics program at University of Arizona awarded 54 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 30% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Rochester. Each year, around 11,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,276 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,779 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 52 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at University of Rochester. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 27% were women.
University of Wisconsin - Madison is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 44,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,273 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. The physics program at University of Wisconsin - Madison awarded 42 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 24% were women.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 48,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,927 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,605 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 38 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at UW Seattle. Of these students, 29% were women and 24% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Oregon is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 21,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,458 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,714 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 37 people received their master's degree in physics from UO. About 24% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 6th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of California - Santa Barbara. Each year, around 26,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 37 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at UCSB. Of these students, 19% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Colorado Boulder comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 37,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,806 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,168 per year. The physics program at University of Colorado Boulder awarded 33 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 9% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Yale University is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 12,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,950 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $45,700 per year. The physics program at Yale University awarded 32 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 6% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 28% were women.
University of Pennsylvania comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 26,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,652 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,732 per year. The physics program at University of Pennsylvania awarded 32 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 25% were women.
Brown University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 9,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,944 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,944 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 30 people received their master's degree in physics from Brown. Of these students, 17% were women and 7% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of California - Berkeley comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 42,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 29 people received their master's degree in physics from UC Berkeley. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 24% were women.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 47,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,865 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,902 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 27 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at U-M. About 37% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Harvard University is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 30,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,143 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,928 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 27 people received their master's degree in physics from Harvard. Around 11% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 30% were women.
Johns Hopkins University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Each year, around 28,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,720 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,720 per year. The physics program at Johns Hopkins University awarded 26 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 27% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Stony Brook University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in physics. Roughly 26,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. The physics program at Stony Brook University awarded 26 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 23% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Carnegie Mellon University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Each year, around 13,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,560 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,441 per year. The physics program at Carnegie Mellon University awarded 25 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 36% of this group were women, and 12% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Northwestern University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 22,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,276 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,067 per year. The physics program at Northwestern University awarded 23 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 35% were women.
Cornell University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in physics. Roughly 23,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,286 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $29,500 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 23 master's degrees were handed out to physics majors at Cornell. Around 4% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 9% were women.
The 20th most popular school in the country for physics majors who are seeking their master's degree is Duke University. Roughly 16,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,085 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $57,900 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 21 people received their master's degree in physics from Duke. Of these students, 33% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to physics that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 2,246 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 1,663 |
| Materials Sciences | 270 |
| Atmospheric Sciences | 213 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 187 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By A. T. Service under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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