Physics at Christian Brothers University

A debt load around $23,000 to earn a physics degree is a manageable starting point, but the first-year salary estimate of $47,670 deserves scrutiny. That figure comes from the national median across 75 physics bachelor's programs—a broad average that masks enormous variation in outcomes. Physics graduates at top-tier research universities often command significantly higher starting salaries, particularly those entering engineering, tech, or quantitative finance roles. At a smaller private institution with an 88% admission rate and modest test scores, career placement networks and employer recognition may not match those at flagship state universities or elite schools, potentially putting graduates toward the lower end of that national range.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 looks reasonable on paper, but remember you're paying private school tuition (hence the need for estimates due to small cohort sizes) while comparing outcomes to programs that include large public universities. Tennessee has 20 physics programs, and while none report granular data publicly, the state median debt of $25,344 is slightly higher than this estimate—though still in a similar range. The real question is whether Christian Brothers' smaller program offers advantages like personalized faculty mentorship and research opportunities that justify any premium over UT Knoxville or similar public options.

If your child is passionate about physics and thrives in smaller classroom settings, this could work—but verify where recent graduates actually landed jobs and what they're earning, not what national averages suggest.