Physicsat Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Graduates earn $51,927/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $556K; scenarios range from $516K to $565K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Physics graduates start at $51,927/yr — above the $46,482 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Physics programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Physics's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
At #36 of 75 Physics programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colorado State University-Fort Collins's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Physics
How Colorado State University-Fort Collins stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Physics at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Physics at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Physics field.
Will AI replace Physics careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $515,699 in decade earnings vs $564,933 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.