Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public · Graduate degree-granting

Located in University Park, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. With 42,284 students, it is a large institution. Graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after enrollment, which is 56% above the national median of $40,747. On the academic side, the graduation rate is 85.9%. For cost considerations, median graduate debt is $25,000, yielding an earnings-to-debt ratio of 2.54x. The average net price after financial aid is $32,875 per year. The most popular programs include Finance, Information Science, Computer & Information Sciences, Psychology, and Mechanical Engineering.

Key Outcomes

Median Earnings (10yr)
$63,435
Graduation Rate
85.9%
Median Debt
$25,000
Average Net Price
$32,875
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
0.48x
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio
2.54x

Admissions & Enrollment

Total Enrollment
42,284
Admission Rate
60.6%
Average SAT
1337
Retention Rate
92.6%

Cost

In-State Tuition
$20,644
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,790
Pell Grant Rate
13.9%
Federal Loan Rate
39.9%

Net Cost by Family Income

Income $0–$30K
$19,845
Income $30K–$48K
$20,049
Income $48K–$75K
$25,667
Income $110K+
$37,831

Student Demographics

Women
50.1%
White
62.7%
Black
4.5%
Hispanic
9.3%
Asian
7.6%
Two or More Races
4.1%

Student Loan Performance

Repayment Rate (3yr)
67.9%

Accreditations

Programs (384)

Bachelor (125)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Finance $96,714 577
Information Science $91,671 489
Computer & Information Sciences $120,729 458
Psychology $49,543 446
Mechanical Engineering $87,997 374
Marketing $79,343 361
Economics $81,228 356
Public Relations $76,246 349
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other $81,617 341
Computer & Information Systems Security $98,637 276
Teacher Education $53,362 274
Biology $64,910 242
Human Resources Management $81,755 239
Criminal Justice & Corrections $56,877 222
Accounting $88,192 218
Sports & Fitness $67,399 210
Journalism $62,336 175
Political Science $68,918 175
Civil Engineering $81,403 160
Data Science Not reported 158
Mathematics $77,336 156
Electrical Engineering $93,277 154
Chemical Engineering $103,728 139
International Relations $71,001 138
Industrial Engineering $104,758 134
Communication Disorders $62,072 129
Radio, Television & Film $66,876 128
Aerospace Engineering $99,159 126
Registered Nursing $91,032 111
Hospitality Management $63,798 110
Biomedical Engineering $100,416 108
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology $77,336 100
Communications $55,505 93
Health Services Administration $75,396 92
Entrepreneurship $78,476 90
Biological and Physical Sciences $69,102 89
Computer Engineering $112,269 83
Geological Sciences $81,092 82
Film, Video & Photographic Arts $43,919 82
Architectural Engineering $94,483 79
Human Development & Family Studies $45,943 79
Petroleum Engineering $113,669 77
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management $55,741 76
Agricultural Business $73,471 75
Statistics $86,636 75
Management Information Systems $95,935 75
English Language & Literature $50,299 74
Animal Sciences $49,772 72
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs $47,620 69
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions $51,635 68
Health Services Administration & Management Not reported 66
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other $104,205 66
Romance Languages $62,831 64
Nutrition Sciences $63,010 59
Atmospheric Sciences $69,083 59
Materials Science $92,864 58
Physics $81,763 56
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods $73,308 56
History $52,871 52
Chemistry $65,230 48
Natural Resources Conservation $60,193 46
Fine Arts $40,036 46
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other $45,833 44
Secondary Education $52,131 44
Architecture $76,181 43
Security & Protective Services $66,084 43
Music $44,241 39
Agriculture $52,932 36
Plant Sciences $52,329 36
Anthropology $50,640 36
Applied Horticulture $69,540 35
Sociology $49,197 35
Design & Applied Arts $58,105 34
Nuclear Engineering $94,365 33
Philosophy $65,675 33
Food Science & Technology $83,112 32
Drama & Theater Arts $44,913 32
Engineering, Other $102,134 30
Landscape Architecture $74,363 29
Engineering Science $100,176 29
Environmental Engineering $80,855 28
Astronomy $66,759 27
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Not reported 25
Agricultural Engineering $87,564 25
Geography and Environmental Studies Not reported 22
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians $75,919 22
Ethnic & Gender Studies $72,063 17
Area Studies Not reported 16
Special Education Not reported 16
East Asian Languages Not reported 16
Forestry Not reported 15
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Not reported 14
Microbiology Not reported 13
Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment $54,488 13
Agricultural Public Services Not reported 12
Educational Media Not reported 12
Science, Technology and Society Not reported 12
Liberal Arts & Sciences $58,195 11
Sustainability Studies Not reported 9
Data Processing Not reported 8
Pharmacology Not reported 8
Computer Software Engineering Not reported 7
Mining and Mineral Engineering $91,411 7
Visual & Performing Arts $45,170 7
Linguistics Not reported 6
Germanic Languages Not reported 5
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Not reported 4
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other $66,866 3
Religion Not reported 3
Surveying Engineering $77,094 1
Social Sciences $59,883 1
Geography $68,993 0
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other $80,105 Not reported
Computer Science $101,854 Not reported
Education $44,984 Not reported
Engineering $88,063 Not reported
Polymer/Plastics Engineering $87,636 Not reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians $81,835 Not reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians $79,342 Not reported
Non-Professional Legal Studies $60,745 Not reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other $50,866 Not reported
Clinical Psychology $48,348 Not reported
Business $65,292 Not reported
Business Administration & Management $72,218 Not reported
Business/Corporate Communications $55,840 Not reported

Master (91)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods $139,676 149
Accounting $110,498 139
Legal Studies Not reported 136
International Studies $81,832 70
Electrical Engineering Not reported 68
Computer Science Not reported 67
Architectural Engineering $98,877 60
Registered Nursing $117,728 56
Public Health $90,383 42
Mechanical Engineering Not reported 37
Industrial Engineering Not reported 32
Applied Mathematics Not reported 30
Business Administration & Management $127,665 29
Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment $129,975 28
Student Counseling and Personnel Services $57,055 27
Special Education $63,109 26
Communication Disorders $68,105 25
Materials Engineering Not reported 23
Music Not reported 23
Clinical Psychology Not reported 22
Curriculum & Instruction $62,403 21
Public Policy Analysis Not reported 21
Human Resources Management $103,541 21
Aerospace Engineering Not reported 19
Health Services Administration $111,065 19
Computer & Information Sciences $166,387 18
Biotechnology Not reported 18
English Language & Literature Not reported 17
Biomedical Engineering Not reported 16
Civil Engineering Not reported 16
Economics Not reported 16
Atmospheric Sciences Not reported 14
Physics $150,865 14
Cognitive Psychology $56,114 13
Engineering, Other $107,278 12
Engineering Science Not reported 11
Geography and Environmental Studies Not reported 10
Educational Administration $63,797 9
Zoology Not reported 9
Geological Sciences Not reported 9
Food Science & Technology Not reported 8
Statistics $129,392 8
Architectural Technology Not reported 7
Communications Not reported 7
Chemical Engineering Not reported 7
Anthropology Not reported 7
Sociology Not reported 7
Fine Arts Not reported 7
Plant Sciences Not reported 6
Secondary Education $69,663 6
Astronomy Not reported 6
Political Science Not reported 6
Drama & Theater Arts Not reported 6
Computer & Information Systems Security Not reported 5
Agricultural Engineering Not reported 5
Human Development & Family Studies Not reported 5
Ecology Not reported 5
Mathematics Not reported 5
Sports & Fitness Not reported 5
Animal Sciences Not reported 4
Architecture Not reported 4
Environmental Engineering Not reported 4
Petroleum Engineering Not reported 4
Linguistics Not reported 4
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Not reported 4
Nutrition Sciences Not reported 4
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Not reported 4
Security & Protective Services Not reported 4
Social Sciences, Other Not reported 4
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Not reported 3
Landscape Architecture Not reported 3
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Not reported 3
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language Not reported 3
Romance Languages Not reported 3
Biology Not reported 3
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Not reported 3
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Not reported 3
Neuroscience Not reported 3
Criminology Not reported 3
History Not reported 3
Information Science $158,815 0
Geography $102,798 0
Computer Engineering $140,393 Not reported
Systems Engineering $145,507 Not reported
Computational Science $137,367 Not reported
Psychology, Other $99,841 Not reported
Homeland Security $106,535 Not reported
Community Organization & Advocacy $84,981 Not reported
Public Administration $87,710 Not reported
Medicine $108,997 Not reported
Finance $114,251 Not reported

Doctoral (73)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Clinical Psychology Not reported 32
Chemistry $115,630 29
Materials Engineering Not reported 27
Mechanical Engineering Not reported 26
Physics Not reported 25
Electrical Engineering Not reported 24
Secondary Education Not reported 22
Biology Not reported 21
Statistics Not reported 18
Communications $75,616 17
Economics Not reported 17
Business Administration & Management Not reported 15
Chemical Engineering Not reported 14
Mathematics Not reported 14
Computer Science Not reported 13
Curriculum & Instruction $74,098 13
Information Science Not reported 12
Biomedical Engineering Not reported 12
Petroleum Engineering Not reported 12
Industrial Engineering Not reported 12
Engineering Science Not reported 11
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Not reported 11
Student Counseling and Personnel Services Not reported 10
Romance Languages Not reported 10
Human Development & Family Studies Not reported 10
Physiology Not reported 10
Astronomy Not reported 10
Zoology Not reported 9
Cognitive Psychology Not reported 9
Aerospace Engineering Not reported 8
Civil Engineering Not reported 8
English Language & Literature Not reported 8
Ecology Not reported 8
Atmospheric Sciences Not reported 8
Architectural Engineering Not reported 7
Nuclear Engineering Not reported 7
Geography and Environmental Studies Not reported 7
Geological Sciences Not reported 7
Criminology Not reported 7
Sociology Not reported 7
Public Health Not reported 7
Educational Assessment Not reported 6
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Not reported 6
Neuroscience Not reported 6
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Not reported 6
Sports & Fitness Not reported 6
Political Science Not reported 6
Hospitality Management Not reported 6
Food Science & Technology Not reported 5
Computer & Information Sciences Not reported 5
Educational Administration Not reported 5
Teacher Education Not reported 5
Linguistics Not reported 5
Cell Biology Not reported 5
Communication Disorders Not reported 5
Agricultural Public Services Not reported 4
Architecture Not reported 4
Special Education Not reported 4
Botany Not reported 4
Nutrition Sciences Not reported 4
Social Sciences, Other Not reported 4
Music Not reported 4
History Not reported 4
Plant Sciences Not reported 3
Soil Sciences Not reported 3
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Not reported 3
Agricultural Engineering Not reported 3
Environmental Engineering Not reported 3
Germanic Languages Not reported 3
Sustainability Studies Not reported 3
Philosophy Not reported 3
Anthropology Not reported 3
Fine Arts Not reported 3

First Professional (2)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Law $90,775 188
Medicine $110,814 150

Associate (10)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Liberal Arts & Sciences $54,654 4
Applied Horticulture $60,464 Not reported
Forestry $42,466 Not reported
Wildlife Management $37,069 Not reported
Information Science $69,394 Not reported
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians $57,997 Not reported
Human Development & Family Studies $40,545 Not reported
Allied Health & Medical Assisting $46,356 Not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment $65,110 Not reported
Business $61,596 Not reported

Post-bachelor's Certificate (8)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Information Science $141,703 Not reported
Educational Administration $111,979 Not reported
Special Education $69,106 Not reported
Statistics $128,684 Not reported
Geography $83,548 Not reported
Business $134,050 Not reported
Business Administration & Management $140,589 Not reported
Human Resources Management $80,436 Not reported

Graduate Certificate (9)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Business Administration & Management Not reported 18
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Not reported 11
Accounting Not reported 7
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Not reported 5
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies Not reported 5
Public Health Not reported 4
Educational Administration Not reported 3
International Studies Not reported 3
Geography Not reported 3

Undergraduate Certificate (21)

Program Median Earnings Completers
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other $82,162 229
Computer & Information Systems Security $102,874 172
Real Estate $100,940 103
Journalism $63,138 62
Hospitality Management Not reported 37
Geography and Environmental Studies Not reported 33
Geography Not reported 30
Education, Other Not reported 25
Liberal Arts & Sciences $93,527 15
Computer & Information Sciences Not reported 10
Engineering, Other Not reported 10
Religion Not reported 10
Neurobiology & Neurosciences Not reported 4
Geological Sciences Not reported 4
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other Not reported 3
International Studies Not reported 3
Registered Nursing $108,264 3
Management Information Systems $81,794 3
Business Administration & Management $79,292 1
Accounting $87,526 0
Practical Nursing $63,384 Not reported
Show 45 additional programs with limited data
Program Level Completers
Agricultural Public Services Master 2
Animal Sciences Doctoral 2
Forestry Master 2
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other Master 2
Educational Assessment Master 2
Educational Media Graduate Certificate 2
Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Certificate 2
Nuclear Engineering Master 2
Manufacturing Engineering Master 2
Engineering-Related Fields Undergraduate Certificate 2
Nanotechnology Master 2
Non-Professional Legal Studies Undergraduate Certificate 2
Legal Professions and Studies, Other Master 2
Medieval and Renaissance Studies Bachelor 2
Philosophy Master 2
Atmospheric Sciences Undergraduate Certificate 2
Chemistry Master 2
Security & Protective Services Undergraduate Certificate 2
Registered Nursing Doctoral 2
Registered Nursing Graduate Certificate 2
Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate 2
Marketing Graduate Certificate 2
Natural Resources Management Bachelor 1
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other Doctoral 1
Area Studies Undergraduate Certificate 1
Educational Administration Undergraduate Certificate 1
Special Education Graduate Certificate 1
Teacher Education Master 1
Engineering, Other Graduate Certificate 1
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Master 1
Human Development & Family Studies Undergraduate Certificate 1
Legal Studies Doctoral 1
Botany Master 1
Cell Biology Master 1
Physiology Master 1
Statistics Graduate Certificate 1
Biological and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Certificate 1
Sustainability Studies Master 1
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Doctoral 1
Cognitive Psychology Undergraduate Certificate 1
Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate 1
International Relations Graduate Certificate 1
Health Services Administration Doctoral 1
Health Services Administration & Management Undergraduate Certificate 1
Business Undergraduate Certificate 1

Rankings Featuring This Institution