Physics at California State University-Los Angeles

A physics degree from Cal State LA carries an estimated $17,900 in debt—roughly $5,000 less than the national median for physics programs and tracking closely with other California State schools. While we can't see actual outcomes for this program's graduates, similar physics programs across California suggest first-year earnings around $50,200, which sits near both the state and national medians for the field.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 suggests manageable repayment, but context matters. Several California physics programs—including Cal State Pomona at $64,000 and UC Santa Barbara at $53,600—show notably stronger earning patterns based on their reported data. Cal State LA serves a predominantly lower-income student population (66% receive Pell grants), which often correlates with graduates taking different career paths or pursuing further education rather than immediately entering high-paying STEM roles. Physics majors frequently need graduate degrees to access the field's highest-paying positions, which could explain why first-year figures don't tell the whole story.

For families focused on immediate return on investment, the relatively modest debt load provides breathing room, but you'll want to understand what percentage of physics graduates here go directly into industry versus graduate school. The gap between this program's estimated outcomes and top-performing California physics programs is substantial enough to warrant specific questions about career placement and graduate school admissions rates.