New York · Physics

Best institutions to study Physics in New York

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…

Institutions
59
offering CIP 40.08
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,101
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$48,374
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$25,874
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
68%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Physicists
$182,580
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$60,3485284%$28,900$20,270
2Cornell University
Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$50,9339695%$17,613$15,961
3CUNY City College
New York Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,9081257%
4Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$48,3747170%$28,133$27,000
5Stony Brook University
Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,56214576%$21,683
6New York University
New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$24,80215388%$29,023$22,750

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.0%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~1,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$166,290
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

ScienceReading ComprehensionMathematicsCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive Listening

What Physicists earn in New York

Jobs in New York
1,140
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$182,580
median $181,970
Best-paying metro
$191,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Related careers

Physicists
$182,580 avg · 1,140 jobs
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
$115,260 avg · 1,080 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Physics programs in New York.

Which Physics program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tops the list at $60,348. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Physicists earn in New York?+

The average annual wage for Physicists in New York is $182,580 (median $181,970), across about 1,140 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

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).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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