Physics at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

UW-River Falls physics graduates start with $62,196 in median earnings—substantially outpacing the national median of $47,670 and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive for a regional comprehensive university with an 82% admission rate. The $30,000 in debt translates to a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary, which is manageable territory. This puts them ahead of 95% of physics programs nationally in terms of keeping debt low.

However, context matters: while these numbers look strong nationally, they're more middle-of-the-pack within Wisconsin, sitting at the 60th percentile for earnings among state physics programs. Interestingly, River Falls grads out-earn those from flagship UW-Madison ($36,878), though Wisconsin's physics job market appears robust overall with a state median of $54,428. The small sample size here—under 30 graduates—means a few high earners in engineering or tech roles could be skewing these numbers upward.

For parents of students seriously interested in physics, this program offers solid value with minimal debt burden. The concern is whether these outcomes are stable or if you're looking at data from an unusually successful cohort. If your student is considering graduate school in physics (as many do), starting with low debt is particularly valuable.