Physics Degree in Ann Arbor, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Ann Arbor, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Ann Arbor, MI Overview
Ann Arbor, Michigan (pop. 123,851) has 14 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,014/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Ann Arbor is approximately $52,700, growing to $89,250 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,736/yr
Private Tuition
$33,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,067/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,913/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
65%
Physics Salary in Ann Arbor (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Ann Arbor's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Ann Arbor adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Ann Arbor
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Ann Arbor tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,736 | Private avg: $33,100
Ann Arbor avg aid: $16,913/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,212
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,950
vs HS diploma in Ann Arbor
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Ann Arbor
$534,288
Lifetime earnings premium ($637,500) minus total education cost ($103,212)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Ann Arbor
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Ann Arbor for Physics
University of Michigan
public
$16,736/yr
$66,944 total
Concordia University Ann Arbor
private
$33,100/yr
$132,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Washtenaw Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Ann Arbor Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Michigan Cities
Detroit, MI
$54K starting · COL 87
43 colleges
Grand Rapids, MI
$55K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$55K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$58K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Lansing, MI
$53K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$56K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$60K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$58K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Ann Arbor
Prompt Engineering
$43K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$72K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$75K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Ann Arbor — 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 Ann Arbor.