Physics and Astronomy

Career Potential

Among 2020-2021 Hofstra graduates who majored in physics, 100% of survey respondents reported that they were employed and/or attending or planning to attend graduate school within six months of graduation. Among those Hofstra graduates who majored in physics and who reported salary, the mean annual self-reported salary was $55,000.

Additionally, according to the United States Department of Labor, employment for physicists and astronomers is expected to grow 8% between 2021 and 2031, which is considered faster than average. The 2021 median income for this field is reported as $147,450 per year. (See U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook.)

Examples of places where our recent alumni are employed:

  • AOC Inc.
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory
  • Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Lab
  • Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District
  • Levittown School District
  • NASA
  • Northwell Health
  • Success Academy Charter School

Examples of graduate schools where our alumni are pursuing advanced degrees:

  • Cornell University
  • CUNY Queens College
  • Hofstra University
  • New Mexico State University
  • New York Institute of Technology
  • Penn State University
  • Princeton University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of California, Santa Barbara
  • University of Notre Dame

Alumni outcomes data is based on the results of Hofstra’s annual Alumni Outcomes Survey and other reliable sources. Of the 1,429 undergraduate students who graduated between August 2020 and May 2021, data was collected via surveys and other reliable sources resulting in knowledge about the outcomes for 67% of the 2020-2021 undergraduate alumni. Salary data is self-reported voluntarily by students and is based upon a 47% response rate for full-time employed undergraduate survey respondents. Salary figures include only annual base salary. They do not include bonus, commission, or any other guaranteed compensation.

See alumni outcome reports in their entirety.