Physics at Franklin and Marshall College

A $47,670 starting salary—based on comparable physics bachelor's programs nationally—puts Franklin and Marshall squarely at the median, but substantially below what physics graduates typically earn from peer programs in Pennsylvania, where the median is $68,215. That's a $20,000 gap that should matter to families considering a selective liberal arts college with a 32% admission rate and a $23,120 estimated debt load. Penn, for instance, reports first-year earnings at that higher Pennsylvania median, suggesting that program structure, research opportunities, or regional employer connections can significantly affect outcomes even within the same state.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 isn't alarming on its face—physics graduates generally have stronger earning potential than many other majors. But the combination of estimated below-state-average earnings and above-national-average debt (the national median debt is just $23,304) means families are likely paying a premium for the Franklin and Marshall experience without seeing corresponding salary returns in that crucial first year. Physics is a field where graduate school is common, so immediate earnings don't tell the whole story, but they do matter for managing debt payments and building financial stability.

Given the data limitations here, ask the school directly about career outcomes for recent physics graduates: where they're employed, what proportion continue to graduate programs, and whether internship or research opportunities differentiate their program from state alternatives offering better estimated earnings trajectories.