Physics at Binghamton University

Binghamton's physics program carries a significant advantage that's easy to overlook: at $17,500, the debt burden sits well below both the state median ($20,270) and national median ($23,304) for physics bachelor's degrees. With estimated first-year earnings around $48,600—based on six comparable New York physics programs—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.36, meaning they'd owe roughly four months' salary. That's manageable territory for a STEM degree, though it's worth noting these earnings lag behind what physics graduates from RPI ($60,348) or Cornell ($50,933) typically see.

The estimation here matters: Binghamton's actual graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to report specific outcomes, so we're relying on the state median for physics programs. Given Binghamton's solid academic profile (1415 average SAT, 38% admission rate), there's reason to believe its graduates land somewhere in that typical New York range, but you won't find hard numbers to confirm it. The program sits within the mainstream—neither an outlier success story nor a warning sign.

The practical takeaway: if your child is passionate about physics and wants to minimize debt while attending a selective public university, this setup makes financial sense. The lower debt load provides flexibility for graduate school—common in physics—without the pressure of hefty loan payments. Just recognize you're betting on comparable outcomes without school-specific proof.