Physics at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State's Cascades campus produces physics graduates whose first-year earnings of $48,169 land right at the state median—matching the main OSU campus—and slightly above the national average. The manageable debt load of $25,410 creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, meaning graduates earn roughly double what they owe. Among Oregon's physics programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, though Portland State's graduates pull significantly higher salaries at $62,749.

The real consideration here is the modest starting salary paired with physics' typical career trajectory. While the debt burden is reasonable and below national medians, $48,000 represents a challenging first-year income for a STEM degree—particularly when physics graduates often need graduate school to access higher-paying research or academic positions. The program serves 28% Pell grant recipients at this accessible campus, suggesting it may fill an important role for students seeking physics training close to home in Central Oregon.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably year to year. For families committed to keeping their student in Bend, the combination of modest debt and near-average earnings makes this workable, but those prioritizing immediate earning power might consider the Portland State option or the main OSU campus.