Physics at Carroll College

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5 represents solid financial footing for a bachelor's degree, and this program appears to clear that bar. Based on national data from similar physics programs, graduates would face roughly $23,000 in debt against first-year earnings around $48,000—manageable by most standards for a STEM degree. Carroll's relatively accessible admission profile (73% acceptance rate, modest test scores) suggests this could be a viable path for students who want physics training without the pressure cooker environment of highly selective programs.

The challenge is that these figures come entirely from peer institutions since Carroll's physics cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. With only four schools offering physics degrees in Montana, and none with publicly available earnings data, there's limited state-specific context to assess how Carroll stacks up locally. The national median suggests reasonable starting salaries for physics graduates, though not the premium that fields like engineering or computer science command.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers point to a workable financial proposition—debt that shouldn't overwhelm early-career earnings. But recognize you're making this decision with less certainty than you'd have for larger programs with tracked outcomes. If your student is set on physics and values Carroll's small-college environment, the financial framework looks reasonable enough to proceed, though connecting with recent graduates directly could fill in gaps the data can't.