Physics at Pittsburg State University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 suggests physics graduates from comparable programs enter careers where their first-year salary covers their debt load reasonably well. With an estimated $23,424 in borrowing against $47,670 in early earnings, this lands right at the national medians for physics bachelor's programs nationwide. The challenge here is that these figures tell us what similar physics programs typically produce, not what Pittsburg State specifically delivers for its graduates—the actual sample size was too small for the Department of Education to report.

Kansas has twelve physics programs, but none with publicly available outcome data, making it difficult to assess how Pittsburg State compares to in-state alternatives. The school's 88% admission rate and below-average SAT scores indicate it serves a broader student population than selective universities, which could mean different post-graduation pathways. Physics majors often continue to graduate school or enter technical fields where employer and location matter significantly, so individual outcomes vary widely even within programs with similar debt levels.

For an anxious parent, here's what matters: if your child is seriously interested in physics and plans to pursue it through graduate study or into technical careers, a debt load under $25,000 is manageable. But recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into this specific program's track record. Visit campus, ask the department directly about recent graduate placements, and compare those concrete outcomes against the estimated figures before committing.