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Applied & Engineering Physics

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Applied and engineering physics connects a foundation in physics with technological applications. Coursework combines mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and advanced mathematics with subjects such as electronics, optics, materials, and computational modeling. The balance of physics, engineering, and design varies by program.

Labs and research projects let you investigate physical phenomena and apply them to devices, instruments, or materials. Upper-level electives can lead toward areas such as photonics, semiconductors, and nanoscale systems.

What you'll do after college

Grads can pursue work in engineering, instrumentation, materials, optics, semiconductors, and scientific computing. The mix of physics and technical problem-solving also supports graduate study in physics, applied physics, or engineering.

Research-focused careers often involve further study, while laboratory, design, and programming experience help prepare students for technical roles after a bachelor's degree.

Famous graduates

  • George Pake — Physicist who helped found Xerox PARC; B.S./M.S. in Engineering Physics from Carnegie Mellon
  • Paul McEuen — Prominent nanoscale physicist; B.S. in Engineering Physics from University of Oklahoma

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$100,094
120
100–68%
$99,192
261
67–29%
$124,406
95
19–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$98,556
107
400–1290
$103,320
203
1290–1460
$124,241
100
1460–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$86,167p10 $131,461p90 STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% 0–10% Worcester Polytechnic Institute · $101,839 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · $78,520 Rochester Institute of Technology · $90,330 Kettering University · $105,398 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology · $108,547 Michigan Technological University · $94,043 Berry College · $91,407 Piedmont University · $86,167 University of Central Florida · $99,354 University of California, Davis · $76,751 Ohio State University · $102,591 University of Connecticut · $83,965 Pennsylvania State University · $105,091 University of Colorado Boulder · $108,230 Wright State University · $86,828 University of Illinois Chicago · $92,033 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $104,774 University of New Hampshire · $93,135 University at Buffalo · $90,264 University of Arizona · $96,142 Bridgewater State University · $86,476 Arizona State University · $90,588 Santa Clara University · $116,695 Loyola Marymount University · $96,107 Stonehill College · $93,686 Brigham Young University · $98,789 Case Western Reserve University · $112,263 University of Rochester · $108,658 Illinois Institute of Technology · $100,906 University of California, San Diego · $95,108 University of California, Irvine · $85,355 Colorado School of Mines · $107,511 Tufts University · $119,034 University of California, Berkeley · $109,716 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $114,417 Yale University · $149,462 Stanford University · $134,470 Columbia University · $134,380 Dartmouth · $144,847 Brown University · $131,461 Cornell University · $128,096 New York University · $115,671 STEM, Business & Military: mean $96,446 Liberal Arts: mean $88,787 Public University: mean $94,016 Religious University: mean $101,319 Private University: mean $107,276 20–30%: mean $95,991 10–20%: mean $114,389 0–10%: mean $134,055 All colleges: p10 $86,167 All colleges: p90 $131,461
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Applied & Engineering Physics 50 476 76% / 24% 13% $102,794 94%
Engineering Physics 32 222 78% / 22% 8% $107,565 94%
Applied Physics 12 114 82% / 18% 20% $97,844 92%
Photonic Science and Engineering 1 32 62% / 38% 6% $99,354 97%
Optical Engineering 2 27 74% / 26% 44% $100,170 96%
Optical Sciences and Engineering 1 21 62% / 38% 14% $94,289 100%
Engineering Science 1 17 76% / 24% 12% $105,091 90%
Imaging Science 1 17 76% / 24% 0% $90,330 94%
Laser and Optical Engineering 1 12 75% / 25% 8% $110,595 98%
Optics 2 9 56% / 44% 22% $105,646 93%
Photonics and Optical Engineering 1 5 80% / 20% 0% $86,476
Optical Physics 1 0 $83,456