Astrophysics Degree in Detroit, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Astrophysics degree analysis for Detroit, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$109K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.5 yrs
in Detroit
Cost of Living
87
index (100 = avg)
Astrophysics in Detroit, MI Overview
Detroit is one of Michigan's top college towns, with 43 institutions and a student population of 57,362. Public tuition averages $14,568/year here — near the national average for public universities. Astrophysics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cosmology and Spectroscopy. The adjusted starting salary in Detroit is approximately $73,950.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
43
Public Tuition
$14,568/yr
Private Tuition
$33,980/yr
Room & Board
$12,083/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,401/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Astrophysics Salary in Detroit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Detroit's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astrophysics salary: $85,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Detroit adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Astrophysics ROI Calculator for Detroit
Estimate your return on investment for a Astrophysics degree using local Detroit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,568 | Private avg: $33,980
Detroit avg aid: $15,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$106,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$43,500
vs HS diploma in Detroit
ROI Payback Period
2.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Detroit
$1,198,396
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,305,000) minus total education cost ($106,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Astrophysics in Detroit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Detroit for Astrophysics
Wayne State University
public
$14,568/yr
$58,272 total
University of Detroit Mercy
private
$33,980/yr
$135,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wayne County Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Astrophysics in Detroit
Detroit offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astrophysics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Detroit Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Astrophysics Job Titles
Astrophysics in Nearby Michigan Cities
Grand Rapids, MI
$75K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$75K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$79K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Ann Arbor, MI
$72K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Lansing, MI
$72K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$77K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$82K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$79K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Detroit
Prompt Engineering
$44K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$83K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$74K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$77K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics Degree in Detroit — 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 Detroit.