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West Lafayette, IN · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at Purdue

Purdue graduates about 47 physics & astronomy majors a year. That puts it 84th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a strong program at 76 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $68,000 four years out, below the national figure for the same major (0.88×). Research spending in the field runs about $37 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

76/100Strong#84 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year47under 1% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$68,0000.88× the same major nationally
Research in the field$37Ma year, NSF
Admit rate50%whole school
SAT middle 50%1200–1470whole school

Around Purdue

A shot of the Purdue University campus as seen from the top floor of Meredith So
Purdue University campus from top floor of Meredith South residence hallPhoto: Shocksingularity · CC0 · source
500px provided description: A small plane on approach to land at Purdue Universi
Flying Into The Sunset (198923043)Photo: Jesse Collins · CC BY 3.0 · source
This is a pymol view that shows the entire structure of the GDP-Mannose 4, 6-Deh
Pymol viewPhoto: Ctrob22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A rainbow over 3rd Street in West Lafayette, Indiana near the Honors College Res
Rainbow Over Third StreetPhoto: JMoga11 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Bindley Bioscience Center, Physics Building (PHYS), Chaney-Hale Hall of Science (CHAS), Life Science Ranges (Greenhouse and Service Building), Life Science Plant and Soils Laboratory, Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences (CRTN), Physical Facilities Service Building, Equine Health Sciences Annex, Philip E. Nelson Hall of Food Science (NLSN), Materials Science and Electrical Engineering (MSEE), Hall of Data Science and AI (DSAI), Psychological Sciences Building (PSYC).

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 209 · Dorm 75 · Athletics 12 · Student housing 9 · Dining 4 · Arts 4.

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. Illinois Institute of Technology 77
  2. Worcester Polytechnic Institute 77
  3. University of Arizona 76
  4. Rutgers University–New Brunswick 76
  5. University of Utah 76
  6. University of Connecticut 76
  7. University of Kansas 75
  8. University of Wyoming 75

Other strong majors at Purdue

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Purdue 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.

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