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Stanford University PhD in Physics

Physics is a major offered under the physical sciences program of study at Stanford University. We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the doctor’s degree program in physics, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, whether or not the degree is offered online, and more.

You can jump to any section of this page using the links below:

  • Graduate Cost
  • Average Salary
  • Online Learning
  • Student Diversity
  • Related Majors
  • Focus Areas

How Much Does a Doctorate in Physics from Stanford Cost?

Stanford graduate tuition and fees.

In 2019-2020, the average part-time graduate tuition at Stanford was $1,207 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. Information about average full-time graduate student tuition and fees is shown in the table below.

How Much Can You Make With a PhD in Physics From Stanford?

The median early career salary of physics students who receive their doctor’s degree from Stanford is $94,408 per year. That is 19% lower than the national average of $117,200.

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Does Stanford Offer an Online PhD in Physics?

Online degrees for the Stanford physics doctor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Stanford Online Learning page.

Stanford Doctorate Student Diversity for Physics

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their doctor’s degree in physics in 2019-2020, 17.5% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 20.0%.

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Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Around 22.8% of physics doctor’s degree recipients at Stanford in 2019-2020 were awarded to racial-ethnic minorities*. This is higher than the nationwide number of 11%.

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PhD in Physics Focus Areas at Stanford

Physics students may decide to major in one of the following focus areas.

Majors Related to a PhD in Physics From Stanford

You may also be interested in one of these majors related to physics.

View All Physics Related Majors >

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

  • National Center for Education Statistics
  • O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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PHYS-PHD - Physics (PhD)

Program overview.

Graduate students find opportunities for research in many areas of Physics. Faculty advisors are drawn from many departments, including, but not limited to, Physics, Particle Physics, and Astrophysics at SLAC, Photon Science at SLAC, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Biology.

The Russell H. Varian Laboratory of Physics, the Physics and Astrophysics Building, the W. W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory (HEPL), the E. L. Ginzton Laboratory, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM) together house a range of physics activities from general courses through advanced research. Ginzton Lab houses research on optical systems, including quantum electronics, metrology, optical communication, and the development of advanced lasers. GLAM houses research on novel and nanopatterned materials, from high-temperature superconductors and magnets to organic semiconductors, subwavelength photon waveguides, and quantum dots. GLAM also supports the materials community on campus with various characterization tools: it is the Stanford Nanocharacterization Lab (SNL) site and the NSF-sponsored Center for Probing the Nanoscale (CPN). The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is just a few miles from the Varian Laboratory. SLAC is a national laboratory funded by the Offices of Basic Energy Sciences and High Energy Physics of the Department of Energy. Scientists at SLAC conduct research in photon science, accelerator physics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. The laboratory hosts a two-mile-long linear accelerator that can accelerate electrons and positrons. The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL) uses intense X-ray beams produced with a storage ring on the SLAC site. The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), completed in 2009, is the world’s first x-ray free-electron laser and has opened new avenues of research in ultra-fast photon science.

The Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC), formed jointly with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, provides a focus for theoretical, computational, observational, and instrumental research programs. A wide range of research areas in particle astrophysics and cosmology are investigated by students, postdocs, research staff, and faculty. KIPAC is heavily involved in two significant projects: the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (FGST) and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). KIPAC members also participate fully in the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS), the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), the EXO-200 double beta decay experiment, the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the NuSTAR and Astro-H X-ray satellites, and several cosmic microwave background experiments (BICEP, KECK, QUIET, and POLAR-1).

Students may also be interested in research and facilities at two other independent labs: the Center for Integrated Systems focused on electronics and nanofabrication, and the Clark Center, an interdisciplinary biology, medicine, and bioengineering laboratory.

The Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics is devoted to investigating the basic structure of matter (particle theory, string theory, M-theory, quantum cosmology, condensed matter physics).

Admissions Information

The number of graduate students admitted to the Department of Physics is strictly limited. Students should submit applications by Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time for enrollment the following autumn quarter. Graduate students may generally enter the department only at the beginning of autumn quarter.

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Stanford Faculty Salary by Rank -

Faculty salary by academic rank at stanford university.

  • The Professor salary is $288,663, a 7.59% increase from last year ( +$20,359 ).
  • The Associate professor salary is $187,566, a 9.67% increase from last year ( +$16,531 ).
  • The Assistant professor salary is $150,711, a 7.52% increase from last year ( +$10,536 ).
  • The Instructor salary is $106,699, a 4.99% increase from last year ( +$5,076 ).
  • The Lecturer salary is $104,687, a 7.62% increase from last year ( +$7,410 ).

Faculty Salary By Gender

Faculty salary changes over past 5 years, how stanford faculty salary compared, similar schools' faculty salary.

BMP1

Biomedical Physics (BMP) PhD Program

BMP Group Photo

Welcome to Biomedical Physics at Stanford!

Application deadline.

December 1, 2023

Learn how to apply  

Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir

Stanford University is uniquely positioned to translate fundamental discoveries in basic science to understand biology in humans and lead in academic discoveries of novel therapeutics and diagnostics.

Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, Former Chair, Department of Radiology, Stanford University

The Biomedical Physics (BMP) Graduate Program is a PhD training program hosted by the Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology within the Stanford University School of Medicine. The objective of the PhD in BMP is to train students in research focused on technology translatable to clinical medicine, including radiation therapy, image-guided therapy, diagnostic, interventional, and molecular imaging, and other forms of disease detection and characterization with molecular diagnostics. Given the evolution of modern medicine towards technologically sophisticated treatments and diagnostics, there is a need for well-trained leaders with this educational background and the skills to conduct meaningful and significant research in this field. Stanford University has a rich tradition of innovation and education within these disciplines, with advances ranging from the development and application of the medical linear accelerator towards radiation treatment of cancer to the engineering of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging having been pioneered here.

Thanks to the efforts of faculty in these departments and the support of department chairs Dr. Quynh Le and the late Dr. Sam Gambhir, we created the BMP program in 2021 to train doctoral students within the world-class research environment at Stanford. In fall 2021 we will solicit our first round of applications for students. The first incoming class beginning in fall 2022 will take courses spanning traditional and emerging topics in medical physics and perform original research under the mentorship of experts in this evolving discipline. This is the first PhD program at Stanford housed in clinical departments and will be leveraged this position at the intersection of basic and clinical science to train students in translational research. We look forward to helping you achieve your educational goals within our program and to training the next generation of leaders in this burgeoning field.

Daniel Ennis, Ted Graves, Sharon Pitteri, and Daniel Spielman BMP Program Directors

Daniel Ennis

The Biomedical Physics program is an essential component of Stanford Medicine’s commitment to excellence in education, scientific discovery, bench-to-bedside research, and clinical innovation.

Dr. Lloyd Minor, Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine

Physics Network

What is the salary of PhD in physics?

The average Phd Physics salary can be around INR 2 LPA – 20 LPA in various sectors like Education, Research, Labs, Healthcare, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Electronics, Marketing, etc.

Is Stanford good for physics?

Stanford Physics Rankings Ranked at #4 in College Factual’s most recent rankings, Stanford is in the top 1% of the country for physics students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. It is also ranked #1 in California.

What are the best courses in physics?

  • How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics: University of Virginia.
  • Introduction to Mechanics: Rice University.
  • Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity: Stanford University.
  • Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism: Rice University.

Does Stanford have astrophysics?

Current research in observational astrophysics and cosmology at Stanford covers a wide range of approaches to tackling the most important frontiers.

How do I get into Stanford physics PHD?

Which country is best for physics?

1. United States of America. The physical sciences account for one-quarter of the United States’ research in the Nature Index, and the country has held its own as the world’s largest producer of high-quality articles in the field.

Which university has the best physics?

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • Stanford University.
  • Harvard University.
  • University of California–Berkeley.
  • California Institute of Technology.
  • University of Chicago.
  • University of Tokyo.
  • Princeton University.

What is the highest paying physics job?

  • #1 Computer Research Scientist. Median Salary: $122,840. Education: Master’s.
  • #2 Astronomer. Median Salary: $114,590. Education: Doctorate.
  • #5 Mathematician. Median Salary: $105,030.
  • #6 Biophysicist. Median Salary: $94,490.
  • #7 Medical Scientist. Median Salary: $88,790.

Which job is best in physics?

  • Physics Professor.
  • Aerospace Engineer.
  • Astronomer.
  • Software Engineer.
  • Research Scientist.
  • Geophysicist.
  • Data Scientist.

What should I study if I love physics?

Potential areas of specialisation include particle physics, biotechnology, astrophysics, meteorology, nanotechnology, aerospace dynamics, atomic and laser physics, planetary physics and more.

Does NASA hire physics majors?

To be hired as a NASA scientist, you need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, geology, space science or a similar field. With a master’s degree or a Ph.

What major is Stanford best known for?

The most popular majors at Stanford University include: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Engineering; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Social Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Physical Sciences; Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; …

What subject is Stanford best known for?

Stanford’s best-known undergraduate school is its School of Engineering, which ranks second on the U.S. News Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs. The engineering program has nine academic departments: Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Which PhD in physics is best?

  • JMI New Delhi – Jamia Millia Islamia.
  • IIT Bombay – Indian Institute of Technology.
  • Christ University, Bangalore.
  • Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
  • LPU Jalandhar – Lovely Professional University.
  • IIT Madras – Indian Institute of Technology.
  • REVA University, Bangalore.

How much money does a PhD physicist make?

The average pay for a Physicist PhD is $135,372 a year and $65 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Physicist PhD is between $92,188 and $165,695. On average, a Doctorate Degree is the highest level of education for a Physicist PhD.

Who is World No 1 physicist?

Albert Einstein was a German theoretical physicist, acknowledged for his General Theory of Relativity and the idea of mass-energy equivalence demonstrated by the well-known equation, E = mc2.

Is a physics degree respected?

Physics degrees are highly respected by employers and offer ample career opportunities. The workload can be quite heavy and the hours are long, but if you’re enthusiastic about unravelling the secrets of the universe, it’s a great choice.

Does Harvard offer physics?

The Harvard Physics Department has a large and very active undergraduate program, graduating 50-60 majors (concentrators) a year (including those in the Chemistry and Physics concentration, also administered by the department).

Which country pays highest salary to physicists?

Switzerland stands forefront when it comes to paying scientists for their talents and contributions. The average scientist in Switzerland gets an annual salary of $95,000. It is the country designated as highest paid ones for the scientists in the world.

Are physics degrees in demand?

Are Physics Majors in Demand? Physics majors are definitely in demand although not as much as other marketable majors such as engineering or accounting. This is because a physics major prepares you for a large number of fields but does not equip you with the industry-specific skills for any particular field.

Which branch of physics has more scope?

a) Astro Physics : Best course for those who wanted to explore a better career in Space scinece and technology. b) Nuclear Physics : Ideal for exploring a greater career prospect in Nuclear sector, specially after the great Nuclear deal. And India’s growing Nuclear power and contributions to this subject.

What are 3 careers in physics?

  • Accelerator Operator.
  • Applications Engineer.
  • Data Analyst.
  • Design Engineer.
  • High School Physics Teacher.
  • IT Consultant.
  • Lab Technician.
  • Laser Engineer.

Do physicists make good money?

The median annual wage for physicists was $152,430 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $78,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.

What are two careers in physics?

  • Clinical scientist, medical physics.
  • Nanotechnologist.
  • Radiation protection practitioner.
  • Research scientist.
  • Sound engineer.

Who hires physicists?

  • aerospace and defence.
  • energy and renewable energy.
  • engineering.
  • health and medicine.
  • instrumentation.
  • manufacturing.
  • meteorology and climate change.

Privacy Overview

IMAGES

  1. The PhD Degrees That Pay Off With The Highest Salaries [Infographic]

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  2. Who's Hiring Physics PhDs?

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  3. Stanford University Placements: Salary by Degree, Profession, Industry

    stanford physics phd salary

  4. Number of PhDs Earned in Physics, 1972-2017

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  5. physics phd salary

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  6. Typical Starting Salaries for Physics PhDs

    stanford physics phd salary

VIDEO

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  5. USA PhD in Physics with Full Scholarship

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COMMENTS

  1. Graduate Admissions

    For additional information about graduate life at Stanford, click here. The application deadline for this academic year 2023-24 (2024-25 admissions cycle) is 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, ... The Department of Physics welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would ...

  2. Stanford University Physics PhD Student Salaries

    The estimated total pay for a Physics PhD Student at Stanford University is $84,617 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $84,617 per year. The "Most Likely Range" represents values ...

  3. Financial Support

    All of our incoming Physics Ph.D. students are supported financially by Research and Teaching Assistantships, which provide a salary during the academic year and a tuition allowance for 10 units per quarter. Each year the department is allowed to nominate top students for Stanford Graduate Fellowships. It is highly recommended for students to ...

  4. Stanford University PhD in Physics

    Learn about the Stanford PhD in Physics. Cost, average student debt, average salary of grads, and more. ... The median early career salary of physics students who receive their doctor's degree from Stanford is $94,408 per year. That is 19% lower than the national average of $117,200.

  5. PHYS-PHD Program

    The number of graduate students admitted to the Department of Physics is strictly limited. Students should submit applications by Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time for enrollment the following autumn quarter.

  6. Stanford University Physics Phd Student Salaries in Stanford

    Average salary for Stanford University Physics Phd Student in Stanford: $90,793. Based on 12830 salaries posted anonymously by Stanford University Physics Phd Student employees in Stanford.

  7. Stanford University Physicist Salaries

    Average salaries for Stanford University Physicist: [salary]. Stanford University salary trends based on salaries posted anonymously by Stanford University employees. ... PhD Student. 504 Salaries submitted. $57K-$78K. $66K | $0. 0 open jobs: $57K-$78K. $66K | $0. Postdoctoral Research Affiliate. 483 Salaries submitted. $63K-$76K. $69K | $0. 0 ...

  8. Stanford University Physics PhD Student Salaries in Stanford

    The estimated total pay range for a Physics PhD Student at Stanford University is $66T-$1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Physics PhD Student base salary at Stanford University is $88T per year. The average additional pay is $0 per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or ...

  9. Financial Support

    The RAs provide a salary during the academic year (including Summer Quarter) and a tuition allowance for 10 units per quarter before Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) status and for 0-3 units thereafter. In addition, PhD students receive a full health insurance subsidy. The Stanford RA salary table can be found here.

  10. Stanford Faculty Salary by Academic Rank

    The 2023 average faculty salary is $202,710 at Stanford University across all academic ranks. Stanford's faculty salary increased by 5.68% compared to the 2022 salary. The Professor salary is $288,663, a 7.59% increase from last year ( +$20,359 ). The Associate professor salary is $187,566, a 9.67% increase from last year ( +$16,531 ).

  11. Ph.D. program

    It is expected the specific course requirements are completed by the end of the 3rd year at Stanford. Required Basic Graduate Courses. 30 units (quarter hours) including: Basic graduate courses in advanced mechanics, statistical physics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and an advanced laboratory course.

  12. Stanford University PhD Graduate Student Salaries

    The average PhD Graduate Student base salary at Stanford University is $66K per year. The average additional pay is $0 per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips. The "Most Likely Range" reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

  13. 2022 Career Outcomes

    We know the employment status of 87 percent of the 23 PhD graduates who completed their degrees in 2021-22. Of those: 100 percent were employed or had started new organizations. 35 percent worked in academia (tenure, non-tenure, and postdoctoral positions) 88 percent of PhD respondents indicated a salary range of $75,000 and above (self ...

  14. Biomedical Physics (BMP) PhD Program

    The Biomedical Physics (BMP) Graduate Program is a PhD training program hosted by the Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology within the Stanford University School of Medicine. The objective of the PhD in BMP is to train students in research focused on technology translatable to clinical medicine, including radiation therapy, image ...

  15. Salaries for Stanford University Graduates

    Median first-year earnings for Stanford University graduates ranked by degree type and major. Major. Earnings. Law (First Professional Degree) $156,700. Computer Science (Master's Degree) $153,400. Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $150,100.

  16. Stanford University Placements: Salary by Degree, Profession, Industry

    Up to 80% off on Application & Visa Fees. Stanford University placements are globally known for producing some of the highest paid graduates in the world. The university is ranked at #2 in the world in QS Graduate Employability Rankings. The average salary of the Stanford University graduates is around 112,000 USD per annum (91.93 lakhs INR).

  17. Salary: Phd Student In Physic in United States 2024

    The estimated total pay for a PhD Student in Physics is $129,696 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $103,074 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

  18. What is the salary of PhD in physics? [Solved!]

    The average pay for a Physicist PhD is $135,372 a year and $65 an hour in the United States. The average salary range for a Physicist PhD is between $92,188 and $165,695. On average, a Doctorate Degree is the highest level of education for a Physicist PhD.

  19. Physics Department

    Physics Department. Stanford Physics is a teaching and research department. Our course offerings range from Freshman seminars to advanced graduate classes. We enjoy close connections to Applied Physics and departments at SLAC. More About Us.

  20. Cryogenics Facility Manager in Pittsburgh, PA for University of Pittsburgh

    Cryogenics Facility Manager. The Department of Physics and Astronomy, with Shared Research Support Services, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and the Western Pennsylvania Quantum Infrastructure Core, invites applications from individuals with a PhD or equivalent in Engineering or Physics or a closely related discipline for the Cryogenics Facility Manger position at a rank of research ...

  21. Stanford University Physicist Salaries

    The estimated total pay range for a Physicist at Stanford University is $73K-$135K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average Physicist base salary at Stanford University is $97K per year. The average additional pay is $0 per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.