Physicsat University of California-San Diego
Graduates earn $48,951/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $790K; scenarios range from $690K to $832K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC San Diego
First-year earnings of $48,951 at University of California-San Diego come in 5% above the national median of $46,482 for Physics programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.9x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $48,951 far exceeding the $18,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #15 of 75 nationally, this is a top-5% Physics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $84,411 show a 72% jump from the $48,951 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.
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 UC San Diego'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 UC San Diego stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC San Diego
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC San Diego, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Physics at UC San Diego
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Physics at University of California-San Diego?
A score of 62/100 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 $690,301 in decade earnings vs $831,797 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-San Diego's Physics program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 75 programs nationally, University of California-San Diego lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.