Physics at Reed College

Reed's highly selective physics program comes with estimated first-year earnings of $48,000 and borrowing around $23,000—figures derived from comparable Oregon physics programs and similar liberal arts colleges. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 suggests manageable repayment, roughly half a year's salary. However, Oregon's physics landscape shows significant variation: Portland State graduates report median earnings above $62,000, suggesting that program choice and possibly geographic mobility matter considerably in this field.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Reed's rigorous academic environment and 27% admission rate signal strong preparation, but without actual graduate outcomes data, you're investing in reputation rather than documented results. Physics bachelor's degrees nationally cluster around $48,000 in first-year earnings, so the estimates align with broader patterns. Still, some Reed physics graduates may pursue graduate school immediately—common in physics—which would temporarily depress earnings figures while building toward higher long-term potential.

For families comfortable with selective liberal arts education and able to manage $23,000 in debt, Reed's intellectual intensity may justify the investment. But if maximizing immediate earning power is the priority, the gap between these estimated figures and what Portland State physics graduates actually earn—over $14,000 more—deserves serious consideration. The debt is reasonable, but the earnings picture remains genuinely unclear for this specific program.