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Physics at The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,611/yr (-26% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Large (77,700 openings/yr)

ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #40 of 75 Physics programs

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	$886K	$838K	$726K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.9x	17.9x	15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.5x	7.1x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	62%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	50	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)

$46,912

Out-of-state: $118,640 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,940

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,964

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,646

130% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,611 place The University of Texas at Arlington below the $46,482 national median for Physics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 17.9x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,964 debt-to-$34,611 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #40 out of 75 programs, The University of Texas at Arlington's financial outcomes for Physics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $34,611 to $79,646 over five years (130% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 30,834 students in Arlington, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Arlington →

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 The University of Texas at Arlington

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas at Arlington's Physics program score?

A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The University of Texas at Arlington trails the majority of Physics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

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.

Why are Physics earnings lower at The University of Texas at Arlington?

Lower starting pay at The University of Texas at Arlington may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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