Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $35,689/yr fall 23% below the $46,482 national median for Physics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 14.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $23,971 debt-to-$35,689 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #45 out of 75 programs, Rutgers University-Newark's financial outcomes for Physics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $35,689 to $87,968 over five years (146% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.