Physics at Youngstown State University

In Ohio, physics bachelor's programs at schools with reported data show typical first-year earnings around $53,500, suggesting Youngstown State's estimated $47,670 (based on the national median for similar programs) may land below the state average. The estimated debt of $23,424 produces a manageable 0.49 ratio—meaning graduates would owe about half their first-year salary—but that advantage assumes the earnings estimate holds true for this specific program.

The reality is that we're working with limited information here. Youngstown State's physics program has too few graduates for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes, so these figures represent what comparable programs nationwide typically produce rather than what YSU physics grads actually earn and owe. The $6,000 gap between the estimated earnings and Ohio State's reported median isn't trivial, though it may simply reflect differences between a flagship research university and a regional campus rather than program quality at Youngstown.

For a family considering this program, the central question is whether you're comfortable making a four-year investment based on national averages rather than school-specific track records. The physics degree itself opens doors to graduate school and technical careers, and the debt estimate is reasonable. But if you're comparing offers, prioritize schools with reported outcomes—actual graduate earnings data—over estimates when possible.