Astrophysics Degree in Alhambra, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Astrophysics degree analysis for Alhambra, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$122K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$180K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.7 yrs
in Alhambra
Cost of Living
144.1
index (100 = avg)
Astrophysics in Alhambra, CA Overview
While Alhambra has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Astrophysics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $16,687/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Astrophysics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cosmology and Spectroscopy. The adjusted starting salary in Alhambra is approximately $122,485.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,687/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,317/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
59%
Astrophysics Salary in Alhambra (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Alhambra's cost of living index of 144.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astrophysics salary: $85,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Alhambra adjustment factor: 1.44x based on the local cost of living index.
Astrophysics ROI Calculator for Alhambra
Estimate your return on investment for a Astrophysics degree using local Alhambra tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Alhambra avg aid: $10,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$124,748
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$72,050
vs HS diploma in Alhambra
ROI Payback Period
1.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Alhambra
$2,036,752
Lifetime earnings premium ($2,161,500) minus total education cost ($124,748)
Student Loan Payoff for Astrophysics in Alhambra
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Alhambra for Astrophysics
Alhambra State University
public
$13,565/yr
$54,260 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Alhambra Community College
$6,058/yr
Top Employers for Astrophysics in Alhambra
Alhambra offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astrophysics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Alhambra Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Astrophysics Job Titles
Astrophysics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$120K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$119K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$110K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$97K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$100K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$95K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$99K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$112K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Alhambra
Prompt Engineering
$72K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$137K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$122K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$127K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$118K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$115K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics Degree in Alhambra — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Astrophysics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Alhambra.