Physics at Bard College at Simon's Rock

Simon's Rock's nearly open-admission physics program operates in a competitive Massachusetts market where MIT graduates earn about $55K their first year—but based on the three other Massachusetts physics programs with reported data, this program's estimated $49K starting salary lands right at the state median. That's a respectable outcome for a small liberal arts college competing against research universities, and the estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary.

The challenge here is scale and certainty. Simon's Rock admits 97% of applicants and serves a small student body, which means physics graduates are few enough that the Department of Education suppresses their actual outcomes. The estimated $23K debt figure comes from similar small private colleges nationally, not this specific program, so your child could graduate owing considerably more or less. Physics majors typically see strong earnings growth over time as they move into research, engineering, or tech roles, but we can't verify whether Simon's Rock's particular graduates follow that trajectory.

For families considering this investment, the key question is whether the intimate learning environment justifies the uncertainty. If your child thrives in small settings and you can manage the cost without excessive loans, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. But if you're stretching financially or want concrete evidence of graduate outcomes, programs with reported data offer more transparency about what you're buying.