Astrophysics Degree in Hayward, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Astrophysics degree analysis for Hayward, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$111K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$164K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.3 yrs
in Hayward
Cost of Living
131
index (100 = avg)
Astrophysics in Hayward, CA Overview
While Hayward has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Astrophysics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,898/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 Hayward is approximately $111,350.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$6,972/yr
Private Tuition
$44,745/yr
Room & Board
$14,898/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,102/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Astrophysics Salary in Hayward (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hayward's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astrophysics salary: $85,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Hayward adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.
Astrophysics ROI Calculator for Hayward
Estimate your return on investment for a Astrophysics degree using local Hayward tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,972 | Private avg: $44,745
Hayward avg aid: $13,102/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,480
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$65,500
vs HS diploma in Hayward
ROI Payback Period
1.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hayward
$1,877,520
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,965,000) minus total education cost ($87,480)
Student Loan Payoff for Astrophysics in Hayward
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hayward for Astrophysics
California State University, East Bay
public
$6,972/yr
$27,888 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chabot College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Astrophysics in Hayward
Hayward offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astrophysics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hayward 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 Hayward
Prompt Engineering
$66K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$124K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$111K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$115K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$107K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$105K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics Degree in Hayward — 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 Hayward.