Physics at Yeshiva University

New York physics programs span a wide range, from CUNY City College's $49K to Rensselaer's $60K in first-year earnings. Yeshiva's estimated $48,600—derived from six peer programs across the state—sits squarely in the middle, nearly identical to the national benchmark for physics degrees. That's neither impressive nor alarming for a program at a selective university (64% admission rate, 1410 average SAT), but it suggests these graduates aren't commanding the premium you might expect given the school's academic profile.

The debt picture looks more favorable. At an estimated $20,270, comparable New York physics programs carry roughly $3,000 less debt than the national median. The resulting 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would need about five months of their first year's salary to cover what they borrowed—manageable by most standards. Physics majors often pursue graduate school, which complicates the picture: strong preparation for advanced degrees matters more than immediate earnings, but additional loans for grad school change the financial calculus considerably.

The core challenge here is uncertainty. With both earnings and debt estimated from peer institutions rather than actual Yeshiva outcomes, you're essentially betting that this program performs like the typical New York physics degree. That might be reasonable given the school's selectivity, but without program-specific placement data or graduate school acceptance rates, you're missing critical information to judge whether Yeshiva's particular physics preparation justifies its cost compared to less expensive state options.