Best Physics institutions in California, ranked by earnings
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,045 | 25 | 68% | — | $23,000 |
| 2 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,495 | 147 | 93% | — | $21,100 |
| 3 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,114 | 9 | 55% | — | — |
| 4 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,018 | 13 | 55% | — | $19,069 |
| 5 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,597 | 213 | 83% | — | $15,982 |
| 6 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,219 | 146 | 93% | — | $15,508 |
| 7 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,951 | 115 | 86% | — | $16,800 |
| 8 | University of California - Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,144 | 94 | 87% | — | $15,000 |
| 9 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,057 | 44 | 69% | — | $23,229 |
| 10 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,859 | 54 | 75% | — | $16,250 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).
Top skills
What Physicists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physics programs in California.
Which Physics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $64,045. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Physicists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Physicists in California is $187,720 (median $180,900), across about 6,220 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
What is the focus of the Physics program?+
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Physicists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.0% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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