Wichita State University, Master of Science in Physics, Graduate Certificate in Mathematical Foundations of Data Analytics
Reviewed on Jan 7, 2026(Enrolled 2024)What Students Say
Likes
- There are many professors who have excellent research in their fields
- This city/university is one of the best to be in for aviation studies
Dislikes
- Few courses may feel overwhelming as some professors expect their students to be the best but generally they are supportive
Course Curriculum
8
- My department(physics) has a decent course curriculum, but there are not more than 30 graduate students(MS + PhD), so sometimes the department has to cancel some electives for a semester if there are not many students interested in taking the course (due to recent university rules). But having fewer students is beneficial in a way that almost everyone gets funding, either in the form of research or teaching. Leaving a few exceptions sometimes(only for one semester due to university requirements), most students get a tuition waiver in Physics. As for research, I don’t know anyone in the department who did not start doing research in their first or second semester.
- Class timings are generally morning or afternoon, depending upon the course, and the day schedule also depends upon the specific semester and the courses you are taking.
Admission Experience
- I am interested in astrophysics research, and the professor I am working under (Dr. Ferguson) is one of the only people working in the specific area he devoted his life. He was the biggest reason for me to choose this university. My experience so far has been amazing. He’s very supportive, and I am satisfied with what I am working on for now. I got good funding to cover my expenses, and that turned out to be a huge plus for me.
- They don’t require the GRE. English proficiency is required for international students. My overall IELTS score was 7.5, but the minimum requirement is not that high. To work as a teaching assistant, they require a 7 in speaking, but if it’s low, you can give the SPEAK test at the university to fulfill that requirement, and if you already have an offer for TA, the department may even sponsor the test fee(as it happened with me)
Faculty
8
- All professors in physics are very supportive, and almost all of them are very approachable. The student-to-professor ratio is also very good ( around 1:3 or even better). If I have to choose a faculty, I would obviously vote for my research advisor, Dr. Ferguson. He’s an excellent person. I know this selection is a little biased, and all other professors are also almost as good as him as a person, at least.
Campus Life
8
- There are two campuses in the university, but I never really needed to visit the other one. Most of the things I believe are on the main campus. A decent number of events happen in the university ( not too many if you are a party person, but enough that you can enjoy yourself with your friends).
- There are very nice facilities available for gaming and sports, including almost all types of courts and athletic facilities. There are very nice gyms on the campus as well. The main gym in the YMCA is the fanciest one I’ve ever seen. There’s a nice library on campus as well, where students can go and study in a common area/ book rooms for presentation practice or studying in solidarity.
Part Time Jobs
- Getting a TA in Physics is pretty easy, and everyone gets it with a 100% tuition waiver. In summer, most students in Physics get RA, given that you are associated with a research group. Students work 20 hours/week on paper, but it is actually much less than that. Pay is around 4800-5000 USD per semester for a TA.
Placement
6
- My course is not really a job type. I don’t believe many people even think about taking a job after graduating with an MS in Physics throughout the country unless their research is in material science or condensed matter-related topics in physics.
- Most students go for a PhD after a master's. This is because students doing this course generally have a plan to do long-term research. There are some jobs available in teaching as well, but a PhD is much more attractive compared to that.
Accommodation
Off Campus
10
- There are many good accommodations available around, but if you are fully vegetarian and wish to have vegetarian roommates, it is extremely difficult to find. This is the reason I had to live alone for a year and paid 950 USD per month just for rent, excluding electricity (it included wifi, in-house washer/dryer, and almost all other appliances).
- It was a 1-bedroom, unfurnished apartment. Now I am paying around 240 USD (Total is 950 USD for 2 2-bedroom apartments and there are 4 people living), excluding electricity, wifi, and there is a common laundry facility in the apartment complex. The previous apartment I found online, and the one I am living in now, I found as a vacant place with my friends.
Exams
- No specific tests are required (at least not for master’s admission). Just the general requirements every university has, like English proficiency, LORs, SOP, and they may ask for a CV.
Fees
- Tuition fees per semester depend on the number of credit hours taken. For 9 credit hours in the first semester, the total fee was around 9000 USD, including health insurance (This is without any scholarship). As a teaching assistant, it comes down to around 1500 USD per semester, including insurance.
