Physics at Regis University

Similar physics programs in Colorado suggest first-year earnings around $42,000, which falls notably below the national median of $47,700 for physics bachelor's degrees. While the debt load—an estimated $23,000 based on comparable programs at similar institutions—remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, the earnings gap matters. Colorado State reports graduates earning over $51,000, demonstrating that stronger outcomes are achievable within the state for physics majors.

Physics typically offers solid career prospects, but the estimated earnings here put graduates closer to what University of Northern Colorado reports rather than what top programs produce. At $42,000 annually, loan payments would consume roughly 10% of gross income on a standard repayment plan—affordable but leaving less cushion than higher-earning programs provide. The question becomes whether Regis's smaller program (the suppressed data suggests few graduates) offers advantages like personalized attention that offset the apparent earnings disadvantage.

Without actual graduate outcomes from Regis itself, you're relying on estimates that may not reflect this program's specific strengths or weaknesses. If your child is drawn to Regis for reasons beyond the physics program—location, fit, other academic interests—that's worth weighing. But for physics specifically, comparing the school's research opportunities, faculty credentials, and graduate school placement against state alternatives would help determine whether this investment makes sense when peer programs show such varied results.