Physics at University of Connecticut-Avery Point

The small sample size here makes this data unreliable, but the numbers raise real questions. A $32,341 starting salary for physics graduates falls at just the 10th percentile nationally—physics majors typically earn $47,670 their first year out. That's a $15,000 gap that matters when you're servicing debt. The 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it's uncomfortably tight for a STEM field that should command better compensation.

Here's the puzzling part: despite ranking in the bottom tenth nationally, this program sits at the 60th percentile among Connecticut physics programs. Look closer at the state data, though, and you'll see why—all five Connecticut schools listed show identical earnings of $32,341. This suggests the state-level data may be capturing a small, overlapping group of graduates or has reporting quirks that make meaningful comparison impossible. The real benchmark remains the national median, and by that standard, graduates are earning about two-thirds of what physics majors typically make.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers could easily swing dramatically year to year. This might reflect graduates pursuing lower-paying roles initially, or it could indicate the regional job market isn't rewarding physics degrees appropriately. Either way, families banking on STEM-level earnings should proceed cautiously and verify recent graduate outcomes directly with the campus before committing.