Pennsylvania State University Rankings by Salary Score
Salary Scores
64
Associate
Associate
66
Bachelor's
Bachelor's
70
Master's
Master's
42
Doctoral
Doctoral
Pennsylvania State University's Top Rankings
Pennsylvania State University is ranked on 1 lists of the best colleges by earnings one year out of college.
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 Scores 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 Scores 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 Scores 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 Scores 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 Scores 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
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
Sally Ngo 8/20/2019
PennState (main campus) did not have the best financial aid, and I think it's because there are so many students at the school. It's hard to stand out since there are many students who perform well (whether that's academics, sports, etc.) Even within my major, it was hard to stand out to find scholarships. I also think that as an institution, there's just too many students for the school to try to reach the students. I am sure there are a lot of resources, but you have to search for them yourself (sometimes... Read More