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Physical Sciences · Physics Rank #30 of 75

Physicsat Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Graduates earn $58,870/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $605K; scenarios range from $552K to $621K depending on AI disruption.

Magnolia, AR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
58
Optimistic
55
Pessimistic
Earnings
$58,870
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$605K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

At $58,870 per year, Physics graduates from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus significantly outpace the $46,482 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.4x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $22,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #30 of 75 Physics programs, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$552K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$605K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple15.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$621K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Physics graduates typically work

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.

1
Physicists
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$166,290/yr
Very High
2
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
3
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
4
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Physics

How Southern Arkansas University Main Campus stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NC · Public
62
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
23.3x
ROI
Top score
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
74
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
36.5x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Whitworth University
WA · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
70
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
24.0x
ROI
Also at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Other top programs at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Physics at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Physics at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

A score of 57/100 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 $552,362 in decade earnings vs $620,965 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.