Physics Degree in Louisville, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Louisville, KY. 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 yrs
in Louisville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Louisville, KY Overview
Louisville, Kentucky (pop. 633,045) has 17 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,349/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Louisville is approximately $55,800, growing to $94,500 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$12,324/yr
Private Tuition
$37,190/yr
Room & Board
$12,044/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,150/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
58%
Physics Salary in Louisville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Louisville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Louisville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Louisville
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Louisville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,324 | Private avg: $37,190
Louisville avg aid: $16,150/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,300
vs HS diploma in Louisville
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Louisville
$577,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($675,000) minus total education cost ($97,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Louisville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Louisville for Physics
University of Louisville
public
$12,324/yr
$49,296 total
Bellarmine University
private
$45,790/yr
$183,160 total
Spalding University
private
$28,590/yr
$114,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Louisville
Louisville offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Louisville Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other STEM Majors in Louisville
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
$79K 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 Louisville — 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 Louisville.