Physics at Georgia State University

Georgia State's physics program ranks near the bottom among Georgia schools—10th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of just $31,001 compared to the state median of $46,740. Even the strong 62% earnings growth to $50,281 by year four leaves graduates trailing both state and national benchmarks. To put this in perspective, physics graduates from Georgia College & State University start at $62,478, more than double what GSU physics grads initially earn.

The debt level of $26,296 is reasonable by national standards, but paired with those early earnings, it creates a challenging financial picture. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary right out of college. Given that half of GSU's students receive Pell grants, many families here can't easily absorb that kind of burden while their child establishes financial footing.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. A few students pursuing graduate school or taking gap-year positions could skew everything downward. If your child is seriously considering physics at GSU, they should talk directly with department advisors about typical career paths and connect with recent alumni. The data suggests either graduates are struggling to find physics-related work in Atlanta, or many are pursuing additional education before entering the workforce—neither scenario makes this an obvious financial win.