Engineering Physics at Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines' Engineering Physics program puts graduates in striking financial position right out of college, with first-year earnings of $72,858—far above the national median of $57,457 for this field. The 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means typical graduates earn enough in their first four months to cover their entire educational debt, making this one of the cleanest risk-reward profiles you'll find in engineering. With earnings climbing to $87,900 by year four, the financial trajectory stays strong.

The state context is less impressive than it initially appears: Colorado only has two schools offering this program, so the 60th percentile ranking simply means Mines is the lower-earning option in a two-school comparison. However, that's largely irrelevant when the absolute numbers are this solid. The 95th percentile national ranking tells the real story—this program outperforms nearly every other Engineering Physics bachelor's program in the country.

The $21,500 median debt is reasonable, though not exceptionally low (75th percentile nationally). For a parent weighing Mines against other engineering options, the key selling point isn't just the strong starting salary—it's that this specialized program delivers elite national outcomes while maintaining debt levels that won't constrain your child's early career choices. The moderate sample size suggests consistent placement success rather than a few outlier graduates skewing the numbers.