Physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

A physics bachelor's degree from Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus carries an estimated $23,120 in debt—close to the national median but notably higher than Florida's typical $19,452. That debt loads onto estimated first-year earnings of $47,670, which sits below what similar programs across Florida typically produce ($50,960 median). The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, but parents should recognize these figures come from comparable physics programs nationally, not from tracking this specific campus's graduates.

What complicates the picture is the gap between these estimates and Florida's stronger performers. UCF's physics program, for instance, reports actual median earnings above $55,000—about $8,000 more than what peer programs nationally suggest for Embry-Riddle. Whether that difference reflects Embry-Riddle's aerospace industry connections (which could benefit physics graduates differently than reported), regional salary variations, or simply program quality remains unclear without school-specific data.

The takeaway: physics is generally employable, and the estimated debt burden here isn't alarming. But parents banking on Embry-Riddle's aviation-aerospace reputation should verify whether that brand premium extends to physics graduates specifically. Ask the department directly about actual placement rates and starting salaries for recent physics majors—if they can't provide concrete outcomes data, that's information in itself about how confident you should feel in this investment versus Florida's proven alternatives.