Engineering Physics at Augustana College

Augustana's Engineering Physics program starts graduates at $54,165—landing below both the Illinois median ($59,234) and the national median ($57,457). While ranking at the 40th percentile statewide seems middling, there are only five programs in Illinois, and the gap to the top performer (UIUC at $64,304) is significant. The relatively low debt load of $27,000 helps offset the earnings shortfall, keeping the debt-to-income ratio at a manageable 0.50.

The real limitation here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of students pursuing graduate school or taking gap years could dramatically skew these numbers. Engineering Physics graduates often continue to advanced degrees, which would temporarily suppress earnings data. For a small liberal arts college like Augustana, this program may serve more as a pathway to graduate study than direct industry employment—something worth investigating with the department directly.

If your child plans to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, the $5,000-10,000 earnings gap compared to peer programs is worth considering, especially when larger state universities offer both higher starting salaries and similar debt levels. However, if graduate school is the plan, Augustana's undergraduate-focused environment and modest debt could actually position students well for the next step.