Physics at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

UConn Waterbury's physics program reports first-year earnings of $32,341—well below the $47,670 national median for physics graduates. However, the very small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes this figure unreliable, and there's an important wrinkle: all four UConn campuses report identical earnings data, suggesting these numbers may reflect systemic measurement issues rather than actual graduate outcomes. Physics degrees typically command strong salaries, so this 10th percentile national ranking deserves skepticism.

The debt load of $26,324 is reasonable and slightly above the national median for physics programs. The 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio appears manageable on paper, but that's only meaningful if the earnings figure is accurate. With 50% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on strong post-graduation returns to justify the investment.

For parents considering this program, the data simply isn't trustworthy enough to inform a decision. The identical reported earnings across all UConn physics campuses—and the extremely low national ranking—suggest either data collection problems or that these figures capture students at an unusual point in their careers. Before committing, contact the department directly about typical graduate outcomes and employment patterns. A physics degree from a UConn campus should open doors to better opportunities than $32,000 suggests, but you need better information than what's reported here.