Physics Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Physics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $65,100, growing to $110,250 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Physics Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,350
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$707,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($787,500) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Physics
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$64K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$60K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$63K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$67K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$64K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$56K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$52K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$53K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Akron
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$100K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$89K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$92K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$84K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Akron — 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 Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.