Physics at Notre Dame of Maryland University

A physics bachelor's with first-year earnings around $48,000 and debt near $23,000 sits right at national norms for the field, but the small sample size here means these figures come from broader physics program data rather than Notre Dame of Maryland's specific outcomes. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 suggests manageable repayment—roughly half a year's salary—though it's worth noting that physics programs in Maryland show considerable variation, with Salisbury graduates earning $54,500 while those from UMD-College Park start at $40,000.

The challenge with estimating from national medians is that individual programs can differ substantially based on local industry connections, research opportunities, and whether graduates pursue physics-related careers or pivot to finance, software, or teaching. A smaller physics program at a liberal arts institution might produce very different outcomes than a large research university, and the 32% Pell grant population suggests Notre Dame serves students who may need that first job to work out financially.

Given the uncertainty, talking directly with the department about recent graduate placements becomes essential. Ask where the last five physics majors landed—are they in graduate school, teaching, working at national labs, or doing something entirely different? The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value if outcomes track typical physics programs, but without actual data, you're making this decision somewhat blind to what specifically happens for Notre Dame physics graduates.