Physical Sciences at University of Mary Washington

University of Mary Washington's Physical Sciences program sits at an unusual intersection: it ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for earnings but at the 60th percentile among Virginia schools. This apparent contradiction stems from Virginia having very few Physical Sciences programs (just three statewide), meaning the comparison pool is extremely limited. The national picture is more telling—graduates earn $35,464 in their first year, roughly $12,000 below the national median for this degree.

The program does show positive momentum, with earnings climbing 22% to $43,112 by year four, and the debt load of $25,250 is manageable relative to first-year income. However, even with that growth, graduates remain significantly behind their peers nationally. For context, the 75th percentile nationally is $53,538—nearly $10,000 more than what UMW graduates earn four years out.

For parents, this requires a careful conversation about expectations. If your student is considering physics, chemistry, or related sciences with graduate school in mind, the undergraduate debt level won't sink them. But if they're planning to enter the workforce directly with a bachelor's degree, they should understand they'll likely earn considerably less than Physical Sciences graduates from other programs. The high state percentile shouldn't provide false comfort given Virginia's limited options in this field.