Physics at Fordham University

A $20,270 debt load for a physics degree sits comfortably below the national benchmark of $23,304, while estimated first-year earnings of $48,641 align almost exactly with New York's median for physics programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 suggests manageable repayment—roughly equivalent to financing a modest car on an entry-level STEM salary. However, these figures come from comparable New York physics programs, not Fordham's specific graduates, because too few students complete this degree for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes.

That small cohort size matters. Physics programs at peer institutions like Cornell and RPI produce significantly higher starting salaries ($51K-$60K), and even CUNY City College matches these estimated earnings despite much lower costs. Fordham's selective admissions (SAT of 1412) and private school tuition structure raise questions about whether you're paying a premium without seeing returns beyond what state schools deliver. Physics is typically a strong undergraduate major for graduate school preparation or industry pivots, but when outcomes data doesn't exist, you're betting on Fordham's brand and smaller class sizes translating to opportunities that aren't yet measurable.

The practical reality: if your child is serious about physics research or graduate school, focus on faculty access and research opportunities rather than first-year earnings. If they're targeting industry jobs immediately after graduation, the estimated salary-to-debt picture looks reasonable but unremarkable compared to New York's many physics options.