Home › University of California-Santa Barbara › Physics

Physics at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,597/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Large (77,700 openings/yr)
ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 75 Physics programs Top 10%

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 $1,036K $970K $824K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.2x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.3x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 62% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,965
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$104,149
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,597/yr, edging above the $46,482 national average for Physics — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.2x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

At $15,965 in median debt against $53,597 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #5 of 75 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Physics program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $104,149 show a 94% jump from the $53,597 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara admits 28% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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

Compare this program → View all 75 schools offering Physics →

Physics at Other Schools

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($70,150) Brigham Young University ($68,664) University of Pennsylvania ($68,215) Whitworth University ($65,316) California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($64,045) Portland State University ($62,749) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($62,647) Georgia College & State University ($62,478)

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Physics at University of California-Santa Barbara?
A score of 69/100 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 $824,101 in decade earnings vs $1,036,297 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →