Careers for Physics Majors

All three physics degree options are excellent preparation for medical school, law school, or other graduate programs, and for well-paying jobs straight out of undergraduate studies.

Physics Majors Are Gaining Skills that Include:

  • Mathematical modeling
  • Professional presenting and communicating
  • Scientific computing
  • Data analysis
  • Research and development
  • Sophisticated quantitative and analytical methods

Companies Hiring UR Physics Majors Include:

  • Wolfram Research Group
  • Monument Consulting
  • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Department of Defense
  • Berkeley Research Group
  • Altius Associates
  • Merck Pharmaceuticals
  • Boston Health Economics
  • Virginia National Guard

UR Physics Majors Applying to Med School, Law School, and MBA Programs Have:

  • The second-highest average MCAT score. Only economics majors scored higher.
  • The second-highest average LSAT score. Only mathematics majors scored higher.
  • The highest mean GMAT score.
  • One of the highest starting salaries for bachelor's degree recipients.

Graduate Schools Accepting UR Physics Majors Include:

Many UR Physics graduates attend physics and engineering graduate school programs. PhDs in physics and related fields are highly employable in academia, industry, government, finance, and data science. Successful involvement in undergraduate-level research is one of the best predictors that a student will flourish in graduate school. Recent UR physics students have been admitted to pursue graduate degrees, either in physics or closely related fields (applied physics, applied math, engineering) at the following schools:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Harvard University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of California, Santa Barbara
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of California, Davis
  • University of Illinois
  • University of Toronto
  • University of British Columbia
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Carnegie-Mellon University
  • Michigan State University
  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Virginia
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • George Washington University

The National Science Foundation says that earning a degree in a science is good for you, even if you don't go to work in a technical job.

Want to learn more about the kinds of jobs that are available to physics majors? The American Institute of Physics keeps a database of job opportunities that you may enjoy perusing. You may also be interested in statistical research they have collected on education and careers in physics.