Physics at Henderson State University

A $23,400 debt load for a bachelor's in physics seems manageable at first glance—that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning graduates could theoretically pay it off in about six months if they put every dollar toward it. But here's what complicates the picture: these figures are estimated from national medians because Henderson State's physics program is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Meanwhile, other physics programs in Arkansas suggest substantially higher earning potential—around $59,000 for first-year graduates at Southern Arkansas University, nearly $11,000 more than the national baseline used for this estimate.

That gap matters. Physics degrees typically open doors to technical careers, research positions, or graduate school, but outcomes vary significantly based on program resources, faculty research opportunities, and industry connections. With nearly half of Henderson State students receiving Pell grants, many families here are making this decision on tight budgets where an extra $10,000 in annual earnings could be transformative. The core question is whether Henderson State's program delivers outcomes closer to Arkansas's stronger performers or closer to the national average—and without actual graduate data, you're essentially betting on the answer.