Physics at University of San Francisco

A Bachelor's in Physics from a mid-tier private university in one of the nation's most expensive cities raises practical questions about value. Based on estimates from comparable California physics programs, graduates might expect around $50,000 in first-year earnings—right at the state median but well below what students earn from UC and Cal State campuses. With an estimated $23,000 in debt, the financial burden itself isn't extreme, but the bigger concern is whether this program positions students competitively when top public alternatives in the state consistently produce graduates earning $54,000 to $64,000 annually.

Physics degrees typically open doors to graduate school, engineering roles, or tech positions, but the initial earnings here suggest graduates may not be landing the highest-paying opportunities immediately. That $50,000 salary goes considerably less far in San Francisco than elsewhere, and if your child needs to live near their first job, housing costs alone could strain their budget. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 is manageable on paper, but it assumes steady employment at that income level.

The estimation itself—necessary due to small graduate cohorts—means we can't see how USF's specific network, curriculum, or career services actually perform. For a program at this price point in this location, you'd want confidence that it's delivering more than the state average. Without that evidence, the safer bet might be a public university with proven outcomes.