Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

    University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Public
    • Small city
    • R1 research university

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    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Outcomes

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduation rate and earnings

    Graduation rate: 85.4% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of the normal time (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 92.6% return for a second year. Median earnings: $71,762 a year for former students who received federal aid, ten years after they started college.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has 200 programs with reported graduate earnings. The highest is Computer and Information Sciences, General (master's), where graduates earn a median $166,387 four years after finishing, against $126,240 for the same field nationally.

    Outcomes & student data

    Federal data from IPEDS and the U.S. College Scorecard, not student reviews.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    85.4%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    92.6%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    1.8%

    Transfer-out rate

    First-time, full-time students who transferred to another college

    Median earnings

    $71,762

    Former students who received federal aid

    Is it worth it?

    What Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduates earn against what they borrow and what the degree costs after grants.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, latest data
    Earnings, debt and payback at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and similar colleges
    Latest official dataThis collegeSimilar colleges
    Median earningsFormer students, 10 years after startingSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data$71,762$71,762
    Typical federal debtGraduates who borrowed; about $278 a month on a 10-year planSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data$24,500$24,500
    Years to pay back4 years of average net price ($33,675 a year), paid with 10% of median earningsSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data18.8 years9.3 years

    Similar colleges: the median of 36 public four-year colleges in Pennsylvania with the same figures reported. Payback is illustrative: it ignores interest, taxes and living costs, and earnings vary by major. Check a loan payment against earnings.

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduate earnings by major

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, latest data

    Median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, one and four years after finishing, and the median federal loan debt they borrowed at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. The field median is the middle value for the same field and credential across every college that reports it. 292 more programs have too few graduates for earnings to be published.

    Largest program
    Finance and Financial Management Services
    533 graduates · $96,714 median earnings
    Above the national median
    128 of 190 programs
    Graduate earnings compared with the same field and credential at other colleges
    Lowest debt for the pay
    Engineering, Other
    Median debt is 15% of a year's earnings

    Highest-earning programs

    Computer and Information Sciences, General (master's)
    $166,387
    Field median $126,240
    Information Science/Studies (master's)
    $158,815
    Field median $102,118
    Physics (master's)
    $150,865
    Field median $111,173
    Systems Engineering (master's)
    $145,507
    Field median $144,012
    Information Science/Studies (post-baccalaureate certificate)
    $141,703
    Business Administration, Management and Operations (post-baccalaureate certificate)
    $140,589
    Field median $159,290
    Computer Engineering (master's)
    $140,393
    Field median $134,341
    Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (master's)
    $139,676
    Field median $123,573
    Median earnings four years after finishing, or one year where four is not reported.

    Bachelor's programs

    Bachelor's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Computer and Information Sciences, General514$84,461$120,729$85,00042% above$22,250
    Petroleum Engineering68$79,009$113,669$102,50011% aboveN/A
    Computer Engineering71$85,528$112,269$104,7857% above$27,000
    Industrial Engineering139$81,854$104,758$96,5049% above$25,625
    Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other66$72,869$104,205$70,97547% above$24,250
    Chemical Engineering130$84,660$103,728$97,2027% above$26,973
    Engineering, Other29$69,862$102,134$93,4669% above$15,625
    Computer ScienceNot available$70,117$101,854$99,1773% above$22,750
    Biomedical/Medical Engineering140$77,736$100,416$93,4847% above$27,000
    Engineering Science25$85,125$100,176$89,59712% above$26,750
    Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering150$79,268$99,159$96,3003% above$27,000
    Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management272$73,501$98,637$80,32223% above$26,000
    Finance and Financial Management Services533$69,230$96,714$77,31225% above$22,147
    Management Information Systems and Services87$68,666$95,935$81,42418% above$25,000
    Architectural Engineering110$78,742$94,483$85,83910% above$31,000
    Nuclear Engineering22$76,869$94,365$99,6765% below$26,000
    Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering133$82,304$93,277$98,9536% below$26,000
    Materials Sciences57$75,929$92,864$119,71522% below$21,670
    Information Science/Studies427$68,240$91,671$81,11713% above$23,500
    Mining and Mineral Engineering2N/A$91,411$102,66311% belowN/A
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing132$82,877$91,032$86,0206% above$23,749
    Accounting and Related Services219$64,480$88,192$73,05421% above$25,000
    Engineering, GeneralNot available$67,873$88,063$87,5171% above$27,000
    Mechanical Engineering385$75,796$87,997$91,2854% below$24,250
    Polymer/Plastics EngineeringNot available$74,572$87,636$90,4363% below$27,000
    Agricultural Engineering32$70,081$87,564$85,1413% above$26,157
    Statistics64$55,273$86,636$90,7785% below$23,250
    Computer Software and Media Applications0$84,115N/A$41,140104% aboveN/A
    Food Science and Technology34$59,787$83,112$70,55418% above$20,500
    Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansNot available$71,604$81,835$88,9118% below$26,730
    Physics62$55,968$81,763$78,8644% above$20,500
    Human Resources Management and Services244$62,246$81,755$67,02522% above$25,000
    Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other330$44,357$81,617$67,04022% above$25,000
    Civil Engineering165$70,399$81,403$85,1154% below$25,000
    Economics355$60,469$81,228$79,3102% above$21,500
    Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences82$56,396$81,092$60,37934% above$24,250
    Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering19$72,799$80,855$80,7130% above$26,944
    Marketing393$58,892$79,343$66,54219% above$24,352
    Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansNot available$70,820$79,342$81,7653% below$27,000
    Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations97$62,105$78,476$62,35026% above$23,250
    Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology93$47,090$77,336$64,95119% above$26,182
    Mathematics136$67,059$77,336$70,6289% above$23,250
    Surveying Engineering0N/A$77,094$84,9589% belowN/A
    Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication320$55,985$76,246$62,02723% above$24,218
    Architecture64$62,516$76,181$67,17813% above$29,000
    Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians27$61,604$75,919N/A$20,000
    Health and Medical Administrative Services86$55,314$75,396$58,51829% above$24,959
    Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansNot available$74,494N/A$70,3676% aboveN/A
    Landscape Architecture29$59,043$74,363$65,86313% above$27,000
    Agricultural Business and Management84$54,078$73,471$65,39612% above$22,598
    Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods42$63,116$73,308$87,11916% below$23,074
    Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot available$56,682$72,218$64,59012% above$26,375
    Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies20$44,102$72,063$51,56940% above$27,000
    International Relations and National Security Studies97$47,319$71,001$66,1227% above$21,500
    Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services28$57,028$69,540$54,31328% above$25,000
    Biological and Physical Sciences106$40,786$69,102$59,85715% above$23,601
    Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology32$51,331$69,083$59,76016% above$24,000
    Geography and Cartography0$45,907$68,993$57,58620% aboveN/A
    Political Science and Government190$46,124$68,918$61,61312% above$23,250
    Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy1$68,734N/A$42,93060% above$34,750
    Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness221$38,359$67,399$53,02427% above$25,526
    Radio, Television, and Digital Communication176$49,422$66,876$48,48438% above$22,250
    Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other4$38,911$66,866$58,25015% above$23,000
    Astronomy and Astrophysics33N/A$66,759$72,6988% below$27,000
    Security Science and Technology43$54,657$66,084$57,50915% above$27,000
    Philosophy36$39,593$65,675$56,78616% above$26,000
    Business/Commerce, GeneralNot available$52,236$65,292$64,0162% above$23,873
    Chemistry57$48,918$65,230$66,3662% below$23,182
    Biology, General299$38,378$64,910$57,55813% above$23,250
    Hospitality Administration/Management109$54,818$63,798$55,85614% above$24,140
    Nutrition Sciences72$29,775$63,010$59,5286% above$23,250
    Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics53$50,926$62,831$56,04712% above$23,000
    Journalism183$44,298$62,336$54,37815% above$25,000
    Communication Disorders Sciences and Services124$27,725$62,072$58,4916% above$24,781
    Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot available$53,147$60,745$65,3887% below$25,000
    Natural Resources Conservation and Research28$47,703$60,193$54,62710% above$21,500
    Social Sciences, General0$57,562$59,883$52,09515% above$29,750
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities9$34,927$58,195$52,02012% above$24,179
    Design and Applied Arts26$41,905$58,105$52,72710% above$22,648
    Criminal Justice and Corrections253$41,573$56,877$54,4694% above$24,180
    Business/Corporate CommunicationsNot available$39,635$55,840$65,89815% below$25,000
    Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management83$44,488$55,741$49,42413% above$23,810
    Communication and Media Studies124$45,444$55,505$53,8253% above$22,488
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions1N/A$54,488$67,67619% belowN/A
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods328$44,879$53,362$47,73012% above$26,000
    Agriculture, General25$42,740$52,932$52,6760% above$20,000
    History58$37,190$52,871$50,3875% above$21,921
    Plant Sciences35$37,667$52,329$56,4487% below$25,000
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas39$47,516$52,131$50,8273% above$22,250
    Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions53$38,413$51,635$54,8226% below$23,375
    Anthropology34$33,249$50,640$45,83310% above$26,000
    English Language and Literature, General71$35,537$50,299$48,7733% above$23,361
    Agricultural Public Services10$50,118N/A$46,2678% aboveN/A
    Animal Sciences74$42,284$49,772$49,6560% above$21,500
    Psychology, General512$37,593$49,543$50,0661% below$23,642
    Sociology63$43,918$49,197$52,1056% below$24,211
    Research and Experimental PsychologyNot available$33,367$48,348$56,28214% below$20,500
    Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs80$37,406$47,620$52,4819% below$22,500
    Forestry15$46,652N/A$46,9421% below$22,458
    Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services53$38,150$45,943$47,2693% below$26,000
    Natural Resources and Conservation, Other34$30,902$45,833$51,18710% below$24,959
    Visual and Performing Arts, General10N/A$45,170$41,11310% aboveN/A
    Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft42$36,889$44,913$40,05312% above$25,250
    Music28$32,085$44,241$43,3872% above$26,081
    Film/Video and Photographic Arts79$35,470$43,919$45,2263% below$21,500
    Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences33$41,859N/A$60,63131% below$25,250
    Fine and Studio Arts48$30,936$40,036$41,5504% below$26,000

    Associate programs

    Associate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Information Science/StudiesNot available$49,860$69,394$57,64320% aboveN/A
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot available$61,201$65,110$64,0632% above$13,000
    Business/Commerce, GeneralNot available$38,044$61,596$49,13425% above$13,687
    Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesNot available$57,972$60,464$45,63732% above$15,250
    Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansNot available$58,264$57,997$67,97315% belowN/A
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities2$39,818$54,654$42,77428% above$16,000
    Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesNot available$41,132$46,356$46,2460% above$15,250
    ForestryNot availableN/A$42,466$49,95015% belowN/A
    Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesNot available$38,145$40,545$34,75017% above$19,500
    Human Resources Management and ServicesNot available$40,234N/A$45,69112% belowN/A
    Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementNot availableN/A$37,069$37,1390% above$12,000

    Master's programs

    Master's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Computer and Information Sciences, General23$133,941$166,387$126,24032% aboveN/A
    Information Science/Studies1$129,630$158,815$102,11856% above$41,000
    Physics9$106,704$150,865$111,17336% aboveN/A
    Systems EngineeringNot available$112,580$145,507$144,0121% above$38,146
    Computer EngineeringNot available$131,945$140,393$134,3415% above$35,500
    Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods223$116,437$139,676$123,57313% above$28,431
    Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot available$138,103N/A$79,89073% aboveN/A
    Computational ScienceNot available$120,316$137,367$145,8206% below$26,776
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions31$111,020$129,975$126,4833% above$107,823
    Statistics13$117,206$129,392$130,2841% belowN/A
    Business Administration, Management and Operations25$122,042$127,665$95,12734% above$44,875
    Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management19$119,536N/A$98,32022% above$36,202
    Manufacturing Engineering5$118,435N/A$94,16026% aboveN/A
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing1$107,187$117,728$120,3382% below$41,000
    Mechanical Engineering36$114,915N/A$98,10117% aboveN/A
    Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering42$111,392N/A$114,4153% belowN/A
    Health and Medical Administrative Services14$81,337$111,065$89,92824% above$48,158
    Accounting and Related Services138$81,321$110,498$93,22819% above$20,500
    Engineering, Other27$95,734$107,278$117,7029% below$40,650
    Homeland SecurityNot available$84,946$106,535$93,52114% above$39,600
    Human Resources Management and Services24$92,380$103,541$85,19222% above$41,000
    Geography and Cartography0$79,400$102,798$83,25623% above$36,671
    Applied Mathematics41$102,245N/A$87,33617% above$35,625
    Psychology, OtherNot available$107,800$99,841$67,98547% aboveN/A
    Architectural Engineering75$84,576$98,877$115,94615% belowN/A
    Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering32$92,359N/A$103,12010% belowN/A
    MarketingNot available$91,554N/A$67,73635% above$33,000
    Public Health36$62,094$90,383$78,99814% above$20,500
    Public AdministrationNot available$74,027$87,710$77,17514% above$44,375
    Community Organization and AdvocacyNot available$80,894$84,981$61,63338% aboveN/A
    Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot available$83,910N/A$64,68330% aboveN/A
    International/Globalization Studies60$71,600$81,832$71,57614% above$41,000
    Educational/Instructional Media Design0$80,769N/A$65,61923% aboveN/A
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas6$61,781$69,663$62,45012% aboveN/A
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods0$69,658N/A$55,06127% aboveN/A
    Communication Disorders Sciences and Services30$58,726$68,105$65,7864% above$41,000
    Educational Administration and Supervision10$57,192$63,797$69,9449% below$35,314
    Special Education and Teaching18$60,560$63,109$63,0580% above$35,499
    Curriculum and Instruction17$59,068$62,403$60,8073% above$31,500
    Nutrition Sciences1$60,104N/A$55,5538% aboveN/A
    Public Policy Analysis25$58,138N/A$73,91821% belowN/A
    Student Counseling and Personnel Services22$44,164$57,055$58,9983% belowN/A
    Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology6$46,486$56,114$65,74415% below$51,162
    Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot available$47,359N/A$56,87517% below$30,750
    Music19$32,151N/A$37,30914% belowN/A

    Doctoral programs

    Doctoral programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Materials Engineering24$121,313N/A$150,80120% belowN/A
    Chemistry32$107,736$115,630$116,2341% belowN/A
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing2$114,544N/A$133,68714% belowN/A
    Research and Experimental Psychology20$81,836N/A$74,8479% aboveN/A
    Biology, General23$78,257N/A$79,7882% belowN/A
    Communication and Media Studies19N/A$75,616$79,1004% belowN/A
    Curriculum and Instruction17$69,534$74,098$83,54411% belowN/A

    First professional programs

    First professional programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Medicine135$66,744$110,814$106,4654% above$203,207
    Law230$73,461$90,775$100,93210% below$65,500

    Certificate programs

    Certificate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing7$95,718$108,264$72,12950% above$18,750
    Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management174$72,546$102,874$60,30571% above$26,000
    Real Estate112$74,053$100,940$46,206118% above$22,247
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities28$60,044$93,527$44,022112% above$23,750
    Accounting and Related Services0N/A$87,526$45,40393% aboveN/A
    Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other241$61,875$82,162N/A$21,000
    Management Information Systems and Services3$65,324$81,794$62,02732% above$26,000
    Business Administration, Management and Operations2N/A$79,292$47,10068% aboveN/A
    Engineering, General2$74,477N/A$76,6143% belowN/A
    Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsNot available$59,098$63,384$56,82112% aboveN/A
    Journalism68$42,179$63,138N/A$25,125
    Plant Sciences1$62,775N/AN/AN/A
    Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences12$53,216N/AN/AN/A
    Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot available$52,980N/A$52,9100% above$26,945
    Hospitality Administration/Management25$51,779N/A$47,7818% above$21,500
    Geography and Cartography17$38,806N/A$45,64915% belowN/A

    Post-baccalaureate certificate programs

    Post-baccalaureate certificate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Information Science/StudiesNot available$114,402$141,703N/AN/A
    Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot available$129,844$140,589$159,29012% below$24,000
    Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot available$134,369N/AN/AN/A
    Business/Commerce, GeneralNot available$100,934$134,050N/AN/A
    Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot available$129,315N/A$88,56546% above$25,437
    StatisticsNot availableN/A$128,684N/AN/A
    Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, OtherNot available$115,795N/AN/AN/A
    Educational Administration and SupervisionNot available$90,275$111,979$108,9403% aboveN/A
    Geography and CartographyNot availableN/A$83,548$72,63015% aboveN/A
    Human Resources Management and ServicesNot availableN/A$80,436$78,4713% aboveN/A
    Special Education and TeachingNot availableN/A$69,106$67,0763% aboveN/A

    Graduate certificate programs

    Graduate certificate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Geography and Cartography0$72,514N/A$58,72623% above$20,500

    Career paths from this college

    Careers linked to the programs Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for the whole occupation, not for this college's graduates.

    Explore all 556 careers
    • Healthcare practitioners

      Pediatric Surgeons

      Median pay
      $559,030
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      Via Medicine

    • Bright outlook

      Healthcare practitioners

      Cardiologists

      Median pay
      $496,010
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      Via Medicine

    • Healthcare practitioners

      Radiologists

      Median pay
      $420,860
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      Via Medicine

      • Active Listening
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Speaking
    • Healthcare practitioners

      Surgeons, All Other

      Median pay
      $414,010
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      Via Medicine

    • Healthcare practitioners

      Anesthesiologists

      Median pay
      $391,490
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      Via Medicine

      • Critical Thinking
      • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Monitoring

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