Physics Degree in Dearborn, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Dearborn, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$95K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.6 yrs
in Dearborn
Cost of Living
90.5
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Dearborn, MI Overview
While Dearborn has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Physics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $12,567/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 Dearborn is approximately $56,110, growing to $95,025 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,567/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,314/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Physics Salary in Dearborn (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dearborn's cost of living index of 90.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Dearborn adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Dearborn
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Dearborn tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,400 | Private avg: $32,000
Dearborn avg aid: $8,314/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$111,868
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,435
vs HS diploma in Dearborn
ROI Payback Period
4.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dearborn
$566,882
Lifetime earnings premium ($678,750) minus total education cost ($111,868)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Dearborn
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dearborn for Physics
Dearborn State University
public
$14,575/yr
$58,300 total
University of Dearborn
public
$15,869/yr
$63,476 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dearborn Community College
$5,650/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Dearborn
Dearborn offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dearborn 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
Ann Arbor, MI
$53K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Lansing, MI
$53K starting · COL 85
6 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 Dearborn
Prompt Engineering
$45K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$86K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$77K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$80K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Dearborn — 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 Dearborn.