How much do Physics bachelor's degree graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara earn?

The reported median is $85,219 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $15,982.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 11% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Physics bachelor's degree at University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$8,433 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 18.8% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $55,548 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +65% · Positive payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$222,190

$16,000Current college-wide context+$158,190

$32,000Annual price+$94,190

$48,000Annual price+$30,190

$64,000Annual price−$33,810

$80,000Annual price−$97,810

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+94%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$53,597 → $104,149

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

33Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

41Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

88Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$36,407Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

257Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

37Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

145Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

86Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

46Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$85,219$49,137 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 28 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,109

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$15,982

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$85,219

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$169/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,109Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$41,573Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE33.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE83.0%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$53,597Year 1

$85,219Year 4

$104,149Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.4% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$7,102

Estimated loan payment$169

88borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$85,219 vs. $76,786

$8,433 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Natural Sciences Managers$210,230 median wageCA estimate · 14,950 jobs · 11-9121$167,630–$304,380 middle 50% of CA wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysicists$207,490 median wageCA estimate · 5,930 jobs · 19-2012$173,450–$222,760 middle 50% of CA wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$139,420 median wageCA estimate · 1,130 jobs · 25-1054$105,810–$213,730 middle 50% of CA wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031$79,710–$125,920 middle 50% of CA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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