Bachelor’s Degree in Physics

Bachelor of Science
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Gain skills to launch a career in health physics, quantum information, healthcare technology, photonics, materials science, and more.

At a Glance

Bachelor’s + Master’s Program

BS/MS available: Earn both degrees in five years.

STEM-Designated Degree

Qualifies international students for extended U.S. work authorization through Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Proven Career Success

Average Starting Salary: $79,250*

Notable Employers: AIM Photonics, MITRE, IMPhotonix, Anduril Industries, STR, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, RTX, Medtronic, Epic Systems Corporation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission*

*WPI Class of 2025 First Destination Survey, Bachelor’s Degree Graduates

Application Deadlines

Early Decision/Early Action I: Nov. 1 

Early Decision/Early Action II: Jan. 5 

Regular Decision: Feb. 1 

Explore This Degree

Options

Customize Your Path

Your WPI degree is yours to shape. Complement your major with a minor, or choose electives that interest you. Take your education even further with the accelerated BS/MS, which allows you to earn both your bachelor’s and master’s in as few as five years.

Potential Minors

Computer Science | Mathematics | Astrophysics | Entrepreneurship

 

View All Minors

Undecided? No problem. Apply now and explore before committing to a specific path. 

13:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio 

270+

Student Clubs and Organizations

95%

Of First-Year Students Return for Their Sophomore Year (2025)

WPI Difference

Why Future Physicists Choose WPI

Our project-based degree in physics prepares you for the scientific and technological challenges of tomorrow.  

Through distinctive seven-week terms and intensive project work, you’ll:

Investigate

quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and the fundamental laws shaping our universe

 

Develop

experiments from day one alongside faculty in nanoscience, biophysics, and photonics labs

Apply

physics principles to engineering problems through hands-on major projects with real impact

BUILD

a professional portfolio of completed projects at one of our 50+ project centers worldwide

 

CUSTOMIZE

your expertise by choosing a mix of electives or a concentration to match your interests

 

Collaborate

with teams across disciplines to develop solutions for today’s complex challenges

 

Resources & Tech You’ll Tap Into

Physics_01_LEAP

Lab for Education & Application Prototypes

Prototype photonic integrated circuits inside the 2,000-square-foot cleanroom at the Lab for Education & Application Prototypes, using Nanoscribe two-photon 3D printers, Keysight lightwave measurement systems, and terahertz sensing instrumentation.
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Physics_02_MCL

Materials Characterization Laboratory

Probe the structure of condensed matter, thin films, and engineered alloys with access to electron microscopy, diffraction, and surface analysis instruments that underpin modern solid-state physics.
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Physics_03_IMDc

Integrative Materials Design Center

Run mechanical, optical, and microstructural experiments through university partnerships with Instron, Buehler, and Leica Microsystems, bridging applied physics with industry-grade characterization
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Research Opportunities 

  • Nanoscience, biophysics, and light-matter interactions at the nanoscale 
  • Integrated photonics through the national AIM Photonics initiative 
  • Cavity optomechanics, optical trapping, and fiber-optic sensing
  • Quantum computing and quantum sensing
  • Medical physics and photonics applications
  • Materials physics, condensed matter, and nuclear science

Project-Based Learning Experiences

Apply physics theory and practice from day one. Build a professional portfolio with work that matters.

At WPI, learn in an immersive environment where classroom concepts transform into hands-on projects, thanks to our intensive, seven-week terms. Complete increasingly advanced projects for industry partners and community organizations, both local and global. Present your solutions directly to organizations that will implement what you create.  

Below, explore projects completed by physics students at WPI.

WPI students building project wood prototype
Global

📍Taipei, Taiwan

Low-Carbon Hydrogen Energy Analysis — Teams analyzed low-carbon hydrogen market regulation and origin certification for Taiwan’s clean energy transition.

Global

📍Melbourne, Australia

Urban Heat and Biodiversity Sensing — Students deployed automated heat and biodiversity sensors supporting community health in extreme urban heat conditions.

Local

📍Nantucket, Mass.

SolSmart Solar Energy Certification — Teams evaluated solar energy policy and infrastructure requirements to help Nantucket earn SolSmart certification.

Local

📍Chelsea, Mass.

Air Pollution Mitigation Mapping — Students mapped and analyzed air quality data to recommend pollution reduction strategies for a densely populated city.

Industry

📍Worcester, Mass.

Millimeter-Wave Heat Exchanger Modeling — Students modeled electromagnetic heating behavior in advanced cylindrical susceptors for U.S. Air Force materials research.

Industry

📍Worcester, Mass.

Quantum Sensor MXene Magnetic Imaging — Teams used quantum sensors to image electrical current patterns in novel two-dimensional transition metal materials.

Skills & Salary

Skills You'll Gain

Through WPI’s degree in physics, you’ll investigate the fundamental laws of the universe, build precision instruments, and apply quantitative thinking to solve problems across science, technology, and industry.

Explore opportunities to build skills such as:

Experimental Physics & Instrumentation

 

Design and run precision experiments using lasers, optics, vacuum systems, and cryogenic equipment to measure physical phenomena at the limits of detection.


Build automated data acquisition systems with LabVIEW to control instruments and capture experimental results in real time.

Computational Physics & Modeling

 

Simulate complex physical systems using Python (NumPy, SciPy) and Mathematica to model everything from particle collisions to planetary motion.


Apply Monte Carlo methods and machine learning techniques to analyze large datasets and uncover patterns hidden in experimental noise.

Optics, Photonics & Materials Characterization

 

Engineer photonic systems and quantum devices using COMSOL Multiphysics to design lasers, sensors, and next-generation computing hardware.


Characterize nanomaterials and thin films with techniques like SEM and XRD to understand how structure shapes material behavior.

Technical Leadership & Communication

 

Communicate research findings to scientific and general audiences through LaTeX-formatted publications, conference talks, and visual data storytelling.


Collaborate across disciplines with engineers, computer scientists, and industry partners on major projects that translate physics into real-world technology.

→ Explore the full curriculum in the academic catalog.

Student Voice

“WPI’s project-based curriculum impacted my education by giving me a leg up on other college courses. My education branches closer to real world work than a standard classroom environment.” 

Matthew L.
Matthew L.
BS in Mechanical Engineering, BS in Physics
Matthew’s team, made up of six students with majors ranging from mechanical engineering to interactive media and game development, worked together to assess the feasibility of Bar Harbor becoming an International Dark Sky Community (IDSC). He and his team compared the ordina [...]
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#15

Best Career Placement

The Princeton Review (2026)
Winner

Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments

Council on Undergraduate Research (2023)
Top 5.3%

Worldwide out of 21,000+ Universities 

Center for World University Rankings (2025)
Career

Physics Career & Salary Outlook

Career Path 

Industry Sector 

Entry Level (0–5 years) 

Mid-Level (5–10 years) 

Senior Level (10+ years) 
Engineering & R&D Tech Test & Measurement Engineer
$75K		 Senior R&D Engineer
$115K		 Engineering Director
$180K
Optics & Photonics Photonics Optical Engineer
$85K		 Senior Photonics Engineer
$125K		 Director of Photonics
$190K
Software & Data Science Tech Data Analyst
$85K		 Senior Data Scientist
$130K		 Director of Analytics
$200K
Medical & Health Physics Healthcare Health Physicist
$75K		 Senior Health Physicist
$120K		 Director of Medical Physics
$185K
Nuclear & Energy Systems Energy Nuclear Engineer
$80K		 Senior Nuclear Engineer
$128K		 Engineering Manager
$195K 
Physics Education Education High School Physics Teacher
$65K		 Lead Teacher / Department Chair
$90K		 Department Head
$130K

Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Tuition & Costs
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Financing Your Future

College is a great investment in your future—and we’re here to help you plan for it. Explore WPI’s cost of attendance and learn how our Office of Financial Aid can guide you through options for funding your education. 

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Start Building Your Future Today

WPI’s simple formula helps students thrive: “Go to class. Do the work. Ask for help.” With our physics degree, you’ll gain the analytical skills, research experience, and network to drive discoveries in quantum technology, medical imaging, clean energy, and beyond.

Continue Your Studies

MS in Physics
PhD in Physics
MS in Physics for Educators (MPED)

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