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Physics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,647/yr (35% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Large (77,700 openings/yr)

ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #24 of 75 Physics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Physics graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$651K	$632K	$572K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.1x	17.6x	15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.0x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	62%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,956

Out-of-state: $157,320 (4.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,932

-44% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,150

3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $62,647 put University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Physics program 35% above the national median of $46,482 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 17.6x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $62,647 far exceeding the $17,150 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #24 out of 75 programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Physics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill accepts 19% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 20,556 in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

Top Career Paths

Physicists $166,290/yr

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Physics teachers, postsecondary $97,360/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Physics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Physics program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Physics graduates.

How vulnerable is Physics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Physics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →