Physics at Eastern Nazarene College

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5 is manageable territory, and this program—drawing from what similar Massachusetts physics bachelor's programs produce—suggests approximately $23,000 in debt against nearly $50,000 in first-year earnings. That's workable math. Physics graduates in Massachusetts typically start around this $49,000 mark, which aligns with the national median for the field, meaning this isn't an outlier scenario either way.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With no reported outcomes for Eastern Nazarene's specific physics program, you're betting on whether this small college can match the results of its Massachusetts peers. The estimation comes from just three comparable state programs, and physics outcomes can vary significantly based on research opportunities, graduate school placement, and industry connections—all harder to gauge at a smaller institution. MIT's physics graduates start at $55,000, suggesting the ceiling in Massachusetts, but whether Eastern Nazarene's program opens similar doors remains an open question.

For a family comfortable with moderate debt and confident in their child's ability to leverage a physics degree—whether toward graduate school, engineering roles, or data science—the estimated numbers work. But given Eastern Nazarene's small scale and the lack of verifiable outcomes, visit the department, ask where recent graduates landed, and talk to current students before committing. The financial picture appears reasonable; the program's actual track record is what needs investigation.