Physics at University of the Pacific

A bachelor's in physics from Pacific carries estimated debt of $23,120—slightly above the national median but significantly higher than California's typical $16,800 for physics programs. That debt load becomes more manageable when considering that similar California physics programs suggest first-year earnings around $50,200, putting Pacific right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark of $47,670.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 is solid by today's standards, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under six months of gross earnings. However, context matters: California's physics landscape shows considerable variation, with Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA graduates earning $60,000-$64,000 in their first year. Pacific's 95% admission rate and more modest test scores suggest it serves a different student population than these selective research universities, yet the estimated outcomes land in reasonable territory.

For physics specifically—a degree that opens doors to engineering, data science, and graduate study—these peer program figures suggest acceptable financial positioning. The field rewards persistence and advanced degrees, so if your child plans to pursue graduate work, keeping undergraduate debt below $25,000 provides flexibility for that path. Just recognize you're working with estimates here based on comparable programs, not Pacific's actual graduate outcomes, which the school cannot report due to small sample sizes.