Physics at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

UW-La Crosse physics graduates start at $54,428—solid earnings that place them in the 75th percentile nationally, though right at Wisconsin's median. The $26,292 in median debt is actually quite manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, meaning graduates owe less than half their first year's salary. More importantly, earnings jump 29% to over $70,000 by year four, suggesting these graduates are landing in career trajectories with real growth potential rather than dead-end positions.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset means a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. That said, the debt level is reasonable regardless, and the earnings trajectory aligns with what you'd expect from a legitimate physics program. Within Wisconsin, UW-River Falls shows higher starting earnings at $62,196, while UW-Madison's physics graduates oddly start much lower at $36,878 (possibly because many pursue graduate school immediately).

For a family looking at an accessible state school (73% admission rate) with reasonable costs, this program appears to deliver solid returns. The combination of below-national-average debt and above-national-average earnings creates a favorable financial picture, even if the small sample size means you should verify these outcomes hold up over time. Physics degrees generally open doors to multiple career paths, and these numbers suggest UW-La Crosse graduates are finding those opportunities.