Physics at Benedictine College

A 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests reasonable value on paper—borrowing roughly half your first-year salary is manageable for most graduates. But these estimates, derived from national physics programs and Benedictine's peer institutions, don't tell us what actually happens to physics majors from this specific 1,600-student Catholic college in rural Kansas. Physics is notoriously variable: some programs funnel graduates into engineering roles or graduate school; others struggle with placement. Without actual outcomes data, you're betting that Benedictine's program performs near the national median.

The estimated $47,670 first-year earnings align with typical physics bachelor's outcomes nationally, but physics majors often need graduate degrees to access the field's higher-paying career paths. If your student plans to continue their education, that $23,000 in undergraduate debt becomes just the first layer. Kansas has 12 physics programs, and the lack of reported outcomes from any of them makes state-level comparison impossible—you can't gauge whether smaller Kansas programs match their larger counterparts elsewhere.

The practical question: Does Benedictine provide the research opportunities, graduate school preparation, and industry connections that make physics degrees valuable? Without graduate-specific outcomes, you're relying on the institution's broader track record and the program's faculty strength. Visit the department, ask about recent graduates' paths, and understand what percentage pursue graduate study versus immediate employment.