Physics Degree in Lansing, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Lansing, 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
4.1 yrs
in Lansing
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Lansing, MI Overview
Lansing, Michigan (pop. 112,644) has 6 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $733/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Lansing is approximately $52,700, growing to $89,250 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,460/yr
Private Tuition
$35,667/yr
Room & Board
$9,189/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,827/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
59%
Physics Salary in Lansing (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lansing'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.Lansing adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Lansing
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Lansing tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,460 | Private avg: $35,667
Lansing avg aid: $12,827/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,596
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,950
vs HS diploma in Lansing
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lansing
$542,904
Lifetime earnings premium ($637,500) minus total education cost ($94,596)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Lansing
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lansing for Physics
Michigan State University
public
$14,460/yr
$57,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lansing Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Lansing
Lansing offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lansing 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
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 Lansing
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 Lansing — 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 Lansing.