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Physical Sciences · Physics Rank #13 of 75

Physicsat Texas State University

Graduates earn $41,737/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,040K; scenarios range from $876K to $1,116K depending on AI disruption.

San Marcos, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
64
Optimistic
65
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,737
1-year post-graduation
ROI
21.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$1,040K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas State University

Graduates earn $41,737/yr, roughly in line with the $46,482 national median for Physics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 22.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Physics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $41,737 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Texas State University ranks #13 among 75 Physics programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $41,737-to-$101,450 earnings arc over five years reflects a 143% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

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
$876K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple19.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,040K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple22.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,116K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple24.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas State University'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 Texas State University 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 Texas State University

Other top programs at Texas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Physics at Texas State University

What does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Physics at Texas State University?

At 63/100, Texas State University's Physics program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Physics at Texas State University?

The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is Texas State University one of the best schools for Physics?

Among 75 Physics programs, Texas State University's #13 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.