Physics at University of West Florida

A debt load around $19,500 positions this physics program competitively within Florida, matching the state median for similar programs. But the estimated first-year earnings of $47,670—derived from national patterns since this program's graduate cohort is too small for the DOE to publish—fall below what other Florida physics programs typically deliver. The University of Central Florida's physics graduates, for instance, start above $55,000, while even USF's program shows outcomes in the mid-$40s.

The 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable payments, though physics majors often need graduate education to access higher-paying roles in research or specialized industry positions. Similar bachelor's programs nationally produce median earnings around $47,700, so UWF appears aligned with broader trends even if it trails Florida's strongest programs. The question is whether starting $8,000 below Florida's median matters for your student's trajectory—particularly if they're planning graduate school anyway, where undergraduate pedigree matters less than research experience and faculty connections.

The modest debt burden works in this program's favor, especially if your student can leverage UWF's smaller size for research opportunities that strengthen graduate school applications. Just recognize you're relying on peer program data here, not actual outcomes from recent UWF physics graduates.