Physics at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

A physics bachelor's typically leads to stronger starting salaries than the estimated $41,874 suggested by comparable Colorado programs—the national median sits about $6,000 higher at $47,670. UCD Denver's program appears positioned near the state average, but given the school's broader student profile (78% admission rate, lower test scores), it's worth considering whether graduates will match even these peer-program benchmarks or fall closer to the lower end of the Colorado range, where some physics programs start at $34,373.

The estimated debt load of $23,424 aligns closely with national physics program norms, producing a reasonable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio if the earnings estimate holds true. That's manageable territory—roughly six months of gross income. However, physics graduates often need graduate degrees to access the field's better-paying positions, and this debt represents just the bachelor's portion. If your child plans to continue their education, they'll be adding to this baseline, which makes the starting earnings figure even more critical to understand.

The core challenge here is uncertainty. With no reported graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting on whether UCD Denver's physics students will perform like the state average or trail it. For a field where graduate school is often essential and starting salaries matter greatly for fellowship applications and debt management, consider whether programs with proven track records—like Colorado State's $51,927 median—might offer more security, even if they cost slightly more upfront.