Physics at Bryn Mawr College

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5 is generally considered manageable, and the estimated figures here—$47,670 in first-year earnings against $23,120 in debt—suggest a financially reasonable starting point for a physics degree. However, these estimates are based on national medians across similar programs, not Bryn Mawr's actual outcomes, and the picture becomes more complex when you look at Pennsylvania specifically. Physics majors from comparable programs in the state, like Penn, typically earn around $68,000 in their first year—over $20,000 more than what national peer data would suggest here.

This gap matters because Bryn Mawr is a highly selective institution (31% admission rate, 1404 average SAT) whose graduates likely compete for opportunities with students from those higher-earning Pennsylvania programs. Physics is also a field where graduate school is common, which could explain lower initial earnings if many graduates pursue advanced degrees rather than immediate employment. The debt load appears modest compared to the state's $29,924 median, which provides some cushion if your student follows that path.

The takeaway: Physics programs vary dramatically in outcomes even within the same state, and without actual data from Bryn Mawr, you're betting on whether this program performs closer to national averages or to Pennsylvania's stronger benchmarks. If your student plans on graduate school, the lower estimated debt helps; if they're aiming for immediate employment, probe whether recent graduates have matched the stronger Pennsylvania earnings levels.