Physics & astronomy at MIT
MIT graduates about 79 physics & astronomy majors a year, 7% of its graduating class. That puts it 1st of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a standout program at 100 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $131,000 four years out, 1.71× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $142 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.
Around MIT
Where physics & astronomy happens
Buildings on campus that fit the field: NW21 Plasma Science & Fusion Center.
Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 38 · Dorm 12 · Athletics 2 · Offices 1 · Arts 1 · Student housing 1.
Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking
Other strong majors at MIT
- Computer science 99 · #1
- Mechanical engineering 99 · #1
- Engineering (all) 99 · #1
- Math & statistics 98 · #3
- Neuroscience 96 · #4
- Architecture 91 · #5
How the score works
The score is out of 100 and compares MIT with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.