Physical Sciences at Middlesex College

Edison, NJ · Public · Associate Degree

serving 8,321 students in Edison, NJ.

Program Analysis

Middlesex College's Physical Sciences graduates start at $27,136/yr — above the $24,506 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 49.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Physical Sciences programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 42% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Physical Sciences graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $7,250 in median debt clears fast against $27,136 in annual earnings.

This program is one of 7 schools offering Physical Sciences in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $59,252 show a 118% jump from the $27,136 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
38
Low End
46
Score
49
High End
Earnings $27,136/yr (11% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (58% shielded)
Job Market Large (74,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$476K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,048
Out-of-state: $14,136
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,250
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,252
118% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Physical Sciences graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Natural sciences managers $161,180 +3.7% 50%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 -1.6% 67%
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
+3.7% growth 50% AI-proof
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$64,580
-1.6% growth 67% AI-proof

Physical Sciences Career Guide

Explore what Physical Sciences graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 7 programs nationwide.

Read the full Physical Sciences career guide →

Compare & Explore

Physical Sciences Overview

Physical Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at Middlesex College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Middlesex College's Physical Sciences program score?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Physical Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI affect Physical Sciences careers?
Our scenarios model 42% of Physical Sciences tasks as AI-exposed. That doesn't mean job loss — it means role evolution. Middlesex College's 46/100 score weights this risk into the overall assessment.
How affordable is Physical Sciences at Middlesex College?
At $7,250 in median debt, Physical Sciences graduates from Middlesex College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Is there demand for Physical Sciences workers?
With approximately 74,700 annual openings across mapped careers, Physical Sciences offers a large employment pool. Middlesex College graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →