Pennsylvania State University Rankings by Salary Score™
Salary Score
64
Associate
Associate
66
Bachelor's
Bachelor's
70
Master's
Master's
42
Doctoral
Doctoral
Salary and Debt by Major at Pennsylvania State University
We calculated a Salary Score for each of Pennsylvania State University's programs by comparing program-specific median alumni earnings to median alumni earnings for the same program across all schools that provide this data. This way, students can compare the relative salary strength of a specific major at Pennsylvania State University to the same major at other schools. A school's overall score by level is based on the school's by-program performance weighted by student enrollment in each program. Data is sourced from the December 2020 release of the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and reflects median alumni debt upon graduation and median alumni earnings in the year after graduation for students who received federal financial aid. Debt and salary numbers are shown rounded to the nearest $10.
Salary Score ™ for Penn State Associate Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $15,250 | $38,000 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $15,250 | $47,650 | |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $21,000 | $50,230 | |
| Business/Commerce, General | $19,000 | $36,850 | |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Not Reported | $49,020 | |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Not Reported | $50,860 | |
| Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | Not Reported | $52,110 | |
| Forestry | $12,000 | $31,310 | |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $18,500 | $22,950 | |
| Information Science/Studies | $26,750 | $41,010 | |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $15,750 | $50,440 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Not Reported | $54,450 | |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $12,000 | $24,420 |
Salary Score ™ for Penn State Bachelor's Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $26,940 | $54,000 | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $27,000 | $69,610 | |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $25,620 | $48,040 | |
| Agricultural Engineering | $27,000 | $63,010 | |
| Agricultural Mechanization | Not Reported | $52,110 | |
| Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other | $26,470 | $52,730 | |
| Agriculture, General | $23,240 | $37,420 | |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $23,000 | $23,540 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $27,000 | $28,960 | |
| Animal Sciences | $25,000 | $33,990 | |
| Anthropology | $23,000 | $27,550 | |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $27,000 | $45,640 | |
| Architectural Engineering | $31,000 | $67,560 | |
| Architecture | $29,750 | $52,790 | |
| Area Studies | $24,000 | $22,330 | |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $27,000 | $37,710 | |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $27,000 | $29,290 | |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $26,910 | $29,370 | |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $26,000 | $31,460 | |
| Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician | $27,000 | $41,190 | |
| Biology, General | $27,000 | $29,980 | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $25,000 | $64,870 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $27,000 | $52,110 | |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $25,500 | $65,650 | |
| Business/Commerce, General | $26,000 | $43,660 | |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $24,920 | $38,490 | |
| Chemical Engineering | $26,010 | $72,680 | |
| Chemistry | $25,440 | $45,280 | |
| Civil Engineering | $27,000 | $62,380 | |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,000 | $34,500 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $26,000 | $23,950 | |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $24,470 | $38,490 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $27,000 | $75,340 | |
| Computer Engineering | $27,000 | $74,380 | |
| Computer Science | Not Reported | $60,320 | |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $27,000 | $68,650 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $26,000 | $34,570 | |
| Design and Applied Arts | $26,700 | $44,930 | |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $25,000 | $28,240 | |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Not Reported | $44,170 | |
| Economics | $25,000 | $52,560 | |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Not Reported | $64,990 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $27,000 | $68,570 | |
| Engineering Science | $27,000 | $79,080 | |
| Engineering, General | $26,900 | $60,770 | |
| Engineering, Other | $27,000 | $62,580 | |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,560 | $27,070 | |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $26,900 | $53,360 | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $27,000 | $53,220 | |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $27,000 | $20,140 | |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,000 | $28,380 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $25,000 | $63,970 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,000 | $25,770 | |
| Food Science and Technology | $26,000 | $50,860 | |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | Not Reported | $40,210 | |
| Forestry | $26,000 | $42,360 | |
| Geography and Cartography | $24,250 | $39,910 | |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $26,000 | $53,420 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $23,250 | $46,320 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,000 | $30,550 | |
| History | $27,000 | $28,240 | |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $26,000 | $47,120 | |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,000 | $29,750 | |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $27,000 | $49,110 | |
| Industrial Engineering | $27,000 | $69,970 | |
| Information Science/Studies | $26,000 | $62,720 | |
| International Business | Not Reported | $41,030 | |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $21,500 | $43,130 | |
| Journalism | $26,000 | $35,330 | |
| Landscape Architecture | $30,960 | $52,610 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,480 | $35,060 | |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | Not Reported | $29,690 | |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $26,000 | $58,670 | |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $26,000 | $51,690 | |
| Marketing | $26,000 | $53,290 | |
| Materials Sciences | $26,900 | $65,240 | |
| Mathematics | $25,700 | $57,320 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | $27,000 | $65,920 | |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $27,000 | $58,870 | |
| Music | $24,750 | $21,960 | |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $27,000 | $28,820 | |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $27,000 | $36,850 | |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $42,060 | $60,320 | |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $30,030 | $39,910 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | $27,000 | $64,070 | |
| Nutrition Sciences | $27,000 | $18,500 | |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $24,500 | $35,060 | |
| Petroleum Engineering | $27,000 | $73,270 | |
| Philosophy | $26,760 | $29,690 | |
| Physics | $26,990 | $42,680 | |
| Plant Sciences | $26,730 | $44,170 | |
| Political Science and Government | $26,970 | $37,530 | |
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $27,000 | $66,650 | |
| Psychology, General | $26,330 | $31,460 | |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $24,250 | $43,820 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $22,450 | $69,000 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $26,000 | $30,700 | |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $27,000 | $29,290 | |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Not Reported | $25,100 | |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,000 | $38,600 | |
| Security Science and Technology | $27,000 | $42,680 | |
| Sociology | $26,000 | $32,630 | |
| Statistics | $25,000 | $62,010 | |
| Surveying Engineering | $27,000 | $57,320 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $27,000 | $39,960 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $27,000 | $44,280 | |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | $20,500 | $29,690 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,250 | $30,410 |
Salary Score ™ for Penn State Master's Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $20,500 | $66,450 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $81,340 | $110,430 | |
| Architectural Engineering | Not Reported | $71,230 | |
| Architecture | Not Reported | $56,640 | |
| Area Studies | Not Reported | $29,690 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,000 | $95,620 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $40,960 | $50,540 | |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | Not Reported | $60,160 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $41,000 | $99,070 | |
| Computer Engineering | $40,550 | $101,650 | |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Not Reported | $58,670 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction | $28,250 | $50,490 | |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Not Reported | $52,110 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $28,500 | $46,090 | |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Not Reported | $52,110 | |
| English Language and Literature, General | Not Reported | $32,930 | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | Not Reported | $64,000 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $41,000 | $86,420 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Not Reported | $25,190 | |
| Geography and Cartography | Not Reported | $77,210 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $54,640 | $81,700 | |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $41,000 | $74,640 | |
| Information Science/Studies | $35,830 | $103,080 | |
| International/Global Studies | $44,790 | $44,360 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Not Reported | $53,360 | |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $30,750 | $100,200 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | Not Reported | $78,720 | |
| Medicine | $41,000 | $66,680 | |
| Music | Not Reported | $21,960 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | Not Reported | $94,410 | |
| Public Administration | $41,000 | $57,940 | |
| Public Health | Not Reported | $57,320 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $41,000 | $92,630 | |
| Social Sciences, General | Not Reported | $76,460 | |
| Special Education and Teaching | $30,750 | $50,110 | |
| Statistics | Not Reported | $91,740 | |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | $44,500 | $43,640 | |
| Systems Engineering | $34,980 | $101,220 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Not Reported | $69,340 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $30,750 | $52,110 |
Salary Score ™ for Penn State Doctoral Degrees
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Not Reported | $53,360 | |
| Chemistry | Not Reported | $81,330 | |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Not Reported | $58,670 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Not Reported | $71,020 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Not Reported | $84,650 | |
| Law | $70,760 | $54,870 | |
| Materials Engineering | Not Reported | $122,040 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | Not Reported | $92,630 | |
| Medicine | $214,300 | $58,460 | |
| Psychology, General | Not Reported | $77,000 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Not Reported | $52,110 |
Salary Score ™ for Penn State Certificates
| Field of Study | Employment Rate | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | Not Reported | $47,260 | |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $17,280 | $38,910 |
Reviews by Program
Most Recent Reviews
James S 2/26/2024
Penn State was very fun. There are lots of bars and clubs in town to be social and meet new people. I learned some things about education that I did not know, and I re-learned lots of things I already knew. When I had a health issue towards the end of my program, I was booted from that program and awarded a Master's without the necessary certification to get a job in my field. Penn State would not re-accept me to finish my certification. I am now attending another university to finish my program, at full cost... Read More
Nicole Velasquez 9/9/2019
Penn State has a great Kinesiology and Sports Medicine program. Providing many teaching methods to help students understand the curriculum. Although classes were large of about 200-400 students, it is best to talk to professors and get to know them as well as ask as many questions as possible when it comes to exams or homework questions. Taking advantage of office hours and study sessions will definitely help you understand even the most difficult courses. The Kinesiology professors definitely made the courses... Read More