Pennsylvania State University Rankings by Salary Score

Salary Score 
 64
Associate
 66
Bachelor's
 70
Master's
 42
Doctoral
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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 Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services 58 98% 98% $15,250 $38,000 58
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 53 100% 100% $15,250 $47,650 53
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services 100 100% 100% $21,000 $50,230 100
Business/Commerce, General 84 94% 94% $19,000 $36,850 84
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions 85 93% 93% Not Reported $49,020 85
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians 63 100% 100% Not Reported $50,860 63
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians 41 100% 100% Not Reported $52,110 41
Forestry 64 100% 100% $12,000 $31,310 64
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services 63 88% 88% $18,500 $22,950 63
Information Science/Studies 83 98% 98% $26,750 $41,010 83
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians 76 95% 95% $15,750 $50,440 76
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 33 100% 100% Not Reported $54,450 33
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management 17 93% 93% $12,000 $24,420 17

Salary Score ™ for Penn State Bachelor's Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Accounting and Related Services 75 99% 99% $26,940 $54,000 75
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering 77 99% 99% $27,000 $69,610 77
Agricultural Business and Management 73 93% 93% $25,620 $48,040 73
Agricultural Engineering 85 100% 100% $27,000 $63,010 85
Agricultural Mechanization 55 100% 100% Not Reported $52,110 55
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other 78 93% 93% $26,470 $52,730 78
Agriculture, General 58 92% 92% $23,240 $37,420 58
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs 16 97% 97% $23,000 $23,540 16
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 12 100% 100% $27,000 $28,960 12
Animal Sciences 78 98% 98% $25,000 $33,990 78
Anthropology 57 93% 93% $23,000 $27,550 57
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services 83 98% 98% $27,000 $45,640 83
Architectural Engineering 71 100% 100% $31,000 $67,560 71
Architecture 80 98% 98% $29,750 $52,790 80
Area Studies 8 74% 74% $24,000 $22,330 8
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology 74 98% 98% $27,000 $37,710 74
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology 27 91% 91% $27,000 $29,290 27
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other 31 94% 94% $26,910 $29,370 31
Biological and Physical Sciences 44 94% 94% $26,000 $31,460 44
Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician 76 100% 100% $27,000 $41,190 76
Biology, General 57 94% 94% $27,000 $29,980 57
Biomedical/Medical Engineering 78 92% 92% $25,000 $64,870 78
Business Administration, Management and Operations 85 99% 99% $27,000 $52,110 85
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other 94 97% 97% $25,500 $65,650 94
Business/Commerce, General 48 97% 97% $26,000 $43,660 48
Business/Corporate Communications 31 94% 94% $24,920 $38,490 31
Chemical Engineering 77 98% 98% $26,010 $72,680 77
Chemistry 83 97% 97% $25,440 $45,280 83
Civil Engineering 58 99% 99% $27,000 $62,380 58
Communication and Media Studies 56 96% 96% $26,000 $34,500 56
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services 38 95% 95% $26,000 $23,950 38
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other 72 97% 97% $24,470 $38,490 72
Computer and Information Sciences, General 86 94% 94% $27,000 $75,340 86
Computer Engineering 59 100% 100% $27,000 $74,380 59
Computer Science 35 100% 100% Not Reported $60,320 35
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management 89 98% 98% $27,000 $68,650 89
Criminal Justice and Corrections 44 97% 97% $26,000 $34,570 44
Design and Applied Arts 89 100% 100% $26,700 $44,930 89
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 87 100% 100% $25,000 $28,240 87
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 91 72% 72% Not Reported $44,170 91
Economics 63 93% 93% $25,000 $52,560 63
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians 67 93% 93% Not Reported $64,990 67
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering 41 98% 98% $27,000 $68,570 41
Engineering Science 96 88% 88% $27,000 $79,080 96
Engineering, General 40 96% 96% $26,900 $60,770 40
Engineering, Other 56 95% 95% $27,000 $62,580 56
English Language and Literature, General 34 95% 95% $25,560 $27,070 34
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations 88 97% 97% $26,900 $53,360 88
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 34 98% 98% $27,000 $53,220 34
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies 3 100% 100% $27,000 $20,140 3
Film/Video and Photographic Arts 64 98% 98% $27,000 $28,380 64
Finance and Financial Management Services 91 95% 95% $25,000 $63,970 91
Fine and Studio Arts 46 94% 94% $26,000 $25,770 46
Food Science and Technology 72 98% 98% $26,000 $50,860 72
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services 92 94% 94% Not Reported $40,210 92
Forestry 69 97% 97% $26,000 $42,360 69
Geography and Cartography 70 100% 100% $24,250 $39,910 70
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences 99 98% 98% $26,000 $53,420 99
Health and Medical Administrative Services 71 99% 99% $23,250 $46,320 71
Health and Physical Education/Fitness 53 96% 96% $27,000 $30,550 53
History 35 94% 94% $27,000 $28,240 35
Hospitality Administration/Management 94 97% 97% $26,000 $47,120 94
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services 50 97% 97% $27,000 $29,750 50
Human Resources Management and Services 66 97% 97% $27,000 $49,110 66
Industrial Engineering 61 100% 100% $27,000 $69,970 61
Information Science/Studies 80 98% 98% $26,000 $62,720 80
International Business 28 93% 93% Not Reported $41,030 28
International Relations and National Security Studies 78 92% 92% $21,500 $43,130 78
Journalism 69 96% 96% $26,000 $35,330 69
Landscape Architecture 91 100% 100% $30,960 $52,610 91
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 62 93% 93% $26,480 $35,060 62
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services 52 93% 93% Not Reported $29,690 52
Management Information Systems and Services 64 98% 98% $26,000 $58,670 64
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 42 100% 100% $26,000 $51,690 42
Marketing 95 99% 99% $26,000 $53,290 95
Materials Sciences 83 100% 100% $26,900 $65,240 83
Mathematics 84 94% 94% $25,700 $57,320 84
Mechanical Engineering 52 98% 98% $27,000 $65,920 52
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians 50 98% 98% $27,000 $58,870 50
Music 20 94% 94% $24,750 $21,960 20
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other 73 98% 98% $27,000 $28,820 73
Natural Resources Conservation and Research 70 98% 98% $27,000 $36,850 70
Natural Resources Management and Policy 100 95% 95% $42,060 $60,320 100
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) 61 83% 83% $30,030 $39,910 61
Nuclear Engineering 60 99% 99% $27,000 $64,070 60
Nutrition Sciences 1 93% 93% $27,000 $18,500 1
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management 74 100% 100% $24,500 $35,060 74
Petroleum Engineering 27 97% 97% $27,000 $73,270 27
Philosophy 47 100% 100% $26,760 $29,690 47
Physics 47 83% 83% $26,990 $42,680 47
Plant Sciences 80 100% 100% $26,730 $44,170 80
Political Science and Government 62 93% 93% $26,970 $37,530 62
Polymer/Plastics Engineering 76 100% 100% $27,000 $66,650 76
Psychology, General 63 95% 95% $26,330 $31,460 63
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication 86 98% 98% $24,250 $43,820 86
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 62 99% 99% $22,450 $69,000 62
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions 43 97% 97% $26,000 $30,700 43
Research and Experimental Psychology 31 96% 96% $27,000 $29,290 31
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies 28 85% 85% Not Reported $25,100 28
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 79 95% 95% $27,000 $38,600 79
Security Science and Technology 72 97% 97% $27,000 $42,680 72
Sociology 51 95% 95% $26,000 $32,630 51
Statistics 59 90% 90% $25,000 $62,010 59
Surveying Engineering 24 100% 100% $27,000 $57,320 24
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 80 98% 98% $27,000 $39,960 80
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 92 96% 96% $27,000 $44,280 92
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 24 93% 93% $20,500 $29,690 24
Visual and Performing Arts, General 75 96% 96% $26,250 $30,410 75

Salary Score ™ for Penn State Master's Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Accounting and Related Services 80 100% 100% $20,500 $66,450 80
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions 74 100% 100% $81,340 $110,430 74
Architectural Engineering 29 100% 100% Not Reported $71,230 29
Architecture 68 100% 100% Not Reported $56,640 68
Area Studies 14 92% 92% Not Reported $29,690 14
Business Administration, Management and Operations 87 98% 98% $41,000 $95,620 87
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services 21 100% 100% $40,960 $50,540 21
Community Organization and Advocacy 56 91% 91% Not Reported $60,160 56
Computer and Information Sciences, General 76 97% 97% $41,000 $99,070 76
Computer Engineering 50 96% 96% $40,550 $101,650 50
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management 5 100% 100% Not Reported $58,670 5
Curriculum and Instruction 56 96% 96% $28,250 $50,490 56
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 97 94% 94% Not Reported $52,110 97
Educational Administration and Supervision 22 97% 97% $28,500 $46,090 22
Educational/Instructional Media Design 40 94% 94% Not Reported $52,110 40
English Language and Literature, General 23 100% 100% Not Reported $32,930 23
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 31 100% 100% Not Reported $64,000 31
Finance and Financial Management Services 66 100% 100% $41,000 $86,420 66
Fine and Studio Arts 24 100% 100% Not Reported $25,190 24
Geography and Cartography 95 96% 96% Not Reported $77,210 95
Health and Medical Administrative Services 68 93% 93% $54,640 $81,700 68
Human Resources Management and Services 77 95% 95% $41,000 $74,640 77
Information Science/Studies 91 96% 96% $35,830 $103,080 91
International/Global Studies 35 100% 100% $44,790 $44,360 35
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 68 93% 93% Not Reported $53,360 68
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 78 98% 98% $30,750 $100,200 78
Mechanical Engineering 29 100% 100% Not Reported $78,720 29
Medicine 76 98% 98% $41,000 $66,680 76
Music 20 94% 94% Not Reported $21,960 20
Nuclear Engineering 88 100% 100% Not Reported $94,410 88
Public Administration 63 97% 97% $41,000 $57,940 63
Public Health 59 94% 94% Not Reported $57,320 59
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 36 99% 99% $41,000 $92,630 36
Social Sciences, General 99 93% 93% Not Reported $76,460 99
Special Education and Teaching 50 100% 100% $30,750 $50,110 50
Statistics 60 98% 98% Not Reported $91,740 60
Student Counseling and Personnel Services 44 98% 98% $44,500 $43,640 44
Systems Engineering 46 98% 98% $34,980 $101,220 46
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 100 100% 100% Not Reported $69,340 100
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 61 100% 100% $30,750 $52,110 61

Salary Score ™ for Penn State Doctoral Degrees

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology 10 75% 75% Not Reported $53,360 10
Chemistry 69 96% 96% Not Reported $81,330 69
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology 24 100% 100% Not Reported $58,670 24
Curriculum and Instruction 51 88% 88% Not Reported $71,020 51
Educational Administration and Supervision 53 100% 100% Not Reported $84,650 53
Law 33 98% 98% $70,760 $54,870 33
Materials Engineering 80 100% 100% Not Reported $122,040 80
Mechanical Engineering 40 100% 100% Not Reported $92,630 40
Medicine 57 100% 100% $214,300 $58,460 57
Psychology, General 82 80% 80% Not Reported $77,000 82
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas 10 100% 100% Not Reported $52,110 10

Salary Score ™ for Penn State Certificates

Field of Study Salary Score Employment Rate Median Debt Median Salary Salary Score
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services 81 95% 95% Not Reported $47,260 81
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 64 100% 100% $17,280 $38,910 64

Pennsylvania State University Reviews

4.08
(113 Reviews)

Reviews by Program

Human Services
Bachelor's

4.19

Psychology
Bachelor's

4.29

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