Physics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A UNC Chapel Hill physics degree earns $62,647 right out of college—crushing the national median by $15,000 and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's a significant premium over most physics programs, though within North Carolina, it ranks at the 60th percentile, trailing UNC Charlotte's physics graduates by about $7,500. Still, for a prestigious flagship university, these outcomes justify the investment.

The debt picture is reasonable at $19,200, translating to a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio that's well within manageable territory. A graduate would owe roughly $200 monthly over ten years while earning over $5,200 monthly—comfortable margins for someone launching a STEM career. The debt level sits below both state and national medians for physics programs, despite UNC's selectivity.

What makes this particularly compelling is the combination: elite institution quality (19% admission rate, 1454 average SAT) with practical financial outcomes. Physics graduates often pursue graduate school or specialized careers where the UNC Chapel Hill name carries weight, and they're starting that journey without crushing debt. The moderate sample size suggests stable data, and for families who can secure in-state tuition, this represents excellent value—strong earning potential from a nationally recognized program without the debt burden typical of comparable private institutions.