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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

⌖ University Park, PA · 181 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$31,860 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

11.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−10%Modeled 10-year ROI
$72,964Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$31,860at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$311,5000
2
4
6
8
−$31,86010
Years after graduationBreak-even: 11.1 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$20,644
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$41,790
Sticker price
Average net price$32,875
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$39,694
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, debt, completion and earnings context

$32,875Average net price / year
$39,694Cost of attendance
$25,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$265/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$72,964Median earnings · year 5 after completion
86.1%Completion rate
60.6%Admission rate
42,284Student size

Institution debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded; missing and privacy-suppressed values remain unavailable.

PRICE BY FAMILY INCOME

Average net price is not one price

Federal averages for aided students in each family-income band. Your aid offer can differ.

$0–30k$19,845
$30–48k$20,049
$48–75k$25,667
$75–110k$31,834
$110k+$37,831
LONGER-TERM CONTEXT

What happens beyond the first earnings measure

Year 5$72,964
Year 6$55,620
Year 10$63,435
Full-time retention
92.6%
Part-time retention
85.3%
Completion within 200% of normal time
84.4%

Earnings timepoints may use different historical cohorts and should not be read as one group’s guaranteed salary growth.

NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

92thEarnings percentile
88thCompletion percentile
WHAT STANDS OUT

A faster read on this college

These summaries use only reportable field-and-credential records at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.

$77,336Median year-4 earnings across reportable program categories
$26,000Median federal debt across categories that report debt
70%Of earnings-reporting categories above their same-field national benchmark
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$54,468Year 1
$76,659Year 4
$72,964Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Master's Degree$166,3872Information Science/Studies · Master's Degree$158,8153Physics · Master's Degree$150,8654Systems Engineering · Master's Degree$145,5075Information Science/Studies · Post-baccalaureate Certificate$141,7036Business Administration, Management and Operations · Post-baccalaureate Certificate$140,5897Computer Engineering · Master's Degree$140,3938Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods · Master's Degree$139,676

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in PA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Annual net price
$30,434
Observed earnings · year 5
$69,754
Modeled 10-year ROI
-18%
Open college profile →Erie, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Annual net price
$24,558
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+1%
Open college profile →Reading, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Annual net price
$24,356
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+1%
Open college profile →Middletown, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Annual net price
$23,330
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+2%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralMaster's Degree$166,387Not available
Information Science/StudiesMaster's Degree$158,815Not available
PhysicsMaster's Degree$150,865Not available
Systems EngineeringMaster's Degree$145,507Not available
Information Science/StudiesPost-baccalaureate Certificate$141,703$24,773
Business Administration, Management and OperationsPost-baccalaureate Certificate$140,589$20,125
Computer EngineeringMaster's Degree$140,393Not available
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's Degree$139,676Not available
Computational ScienceMaster's Degree$137,367Not available
Business/Commerce, GeneralPost-baccalaureate Certificate$134,050$15,725
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMaster's Degree$129,975Not available
StatisticsMaster's Degree$129,392Not available
StatisticsPost-baccalaureate Certificate$128,684$16,041
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$127,665Not available
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$120,729$26,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$117,728Not available
ChemistryDoctoral Degree$115,630Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesMaster's Degree$114,251Not available
Petroleum EngineeringBachelor's Degree$113,669$22,368
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$112,269$26,708
Educational Administration and SupervisionPost-baccalaureate Certificate$111,979$17,125
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree$111,065Not available
MedicineFirst Professional Degree$110,814Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$110,498Not available
MedicineMaster's Degree$108,997Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$108,264$27,000
Engineering, OtherMaster's Degree$107,278Not available
Homeland SecurityMaster's Degree$106,535Not available
Industrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree$104,758$25,000
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherBachelor's Degree$104,205$24,028
Chemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$103,728$26,831
Human Resources Management and ServicesMaster's Degree$103,541Not available
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$102,874$27,000
Geography and CartographyMaster's Degree$102,798Not available
Engineering, OtherBachelor's Degree$102,134$26,000
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$101,854$28,000
Real EstateUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$100,940$25,000
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$100,416$24,164
Engineering ScienceBachelor's Degree$100,176$26,500
Psychology, OtherMaster's Degree$99,841Not available
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's Degree$99,159$26,969
Architectural EngineeringMaster's Degree$98,877Not available
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementBachelor's Degree$98,637$26,917
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$96,714$25,375
Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$95,935$26,000
Architectural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$94,483$31,000
Nuclear EngineeringBachelor's Degree$94,365$24,799
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$93,527$30,125
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$93,277$27,000
Materials SciencesBachelor's Degree$92,864$24,750
Information Science/StudiesBachelor's Degree$91,671$26,000
Mining and Mineral EngineeringBachelor's Degree$91,411Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$91,032$27,000
LawFirst Professional Degree$90,775Not available
Public HealthMaster's Degree$90,383Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$88,192$26,000
Engineering, GeneralBachelor's Degree$88,063$27,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,997$27,000
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$87,710Not available
Polymer/Plastics EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,636$27,000
Agricultural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,564$27,000
Accounting and Related ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$87,526$26,499
StatisticsBachelor's Degree$86,636$22,500
Community Organization and AdvocacyMaster's Degree$84,981Not available
Geography and CartographyPost-baccalaureate Certificate$83,548$20,792
Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$83,112$25,000
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$82,162$24,950
Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$81,835$27,000
International/Globalization StudiesMaster's Degree$81,832Not available
Management Information Systems and ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$81,794$27,000
PhysicsBachelor's Degree$81,763$23,830
Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree$81,755$27,000
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, OtherBachelor's Degree$81,617$26,000
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$81,403$26,838
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$81,228$25,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$81,092$26,000
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringBachelor's Degree$80,855$27,000
Human Resources Management and ServicesPost-baccalaureate Certificate$80,436$20,250
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, OtherBachelor's Degree$80,105Not available
MarketingBachelor's Degree$79,343$25,000
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$79,342$27,334
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$79,292Not available
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsBachelor's Degree$78,476$26,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$77,336$26,178
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$77,336$25,000
Surveying EngineeringBachelor's Degree$77,094Not available
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$76,246$24,693
ArchitectureBachelor's Degree$76,181$30,440
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$75,919Not available
Communication and Media StudiesDoctoral Degree$75,616Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$75,396$26,000
Landscape ArchitectureBachelor's Degree$74,363$30,999
Curriculum and InstructionDoctoral Degree$74,098Not available
Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$73,471$26,000
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBachelor's Degree$73,308$26,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$72,218$27,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's Degree$72,063$26,825
International Relations and National Security StudiesBachelor's Degree$71,001$25,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$69,663Not available
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesBachelor's Degree$69,540$26,925
Information Science/StudiesAssociate's Degree$69,394$24,788
Special Education and TeachingPost-baccalaureate Certificate$69,106$22,607
Biological and Physical SciencesBachelor's Degree$69,102$26,000
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyBachelor's Degree$69,083$26,000
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$68,993$26,000
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$68,918$26,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$68,105Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$67,399$27,000
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$66,876$24,937
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherBachelor's Degree$66,866$26,500
Astronomy and AstrophysicsBachelor's Degree$66,759$24,678
Security Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$66,084$27,000
PhilosophyBachelor's Degree$65,675$23,878
Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree$65,292$27,000
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$65,230$27,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsAssociate's Degree$65,110$12,625
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$64,910$26,000
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$63,798$24,500
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$63,797Not available
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$63,384$21,000
JournalismUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$63,138$20,500
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$63,109Not available
Nutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$63,010$26,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$62,831$23,250
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$62,403Not available
JournalismBachelor's Degree$62,336$25,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$62,072$25,000
Business/Commerce, GeneralAssociate's Degree$61,596$19,500
Non-Professional Legal StudiesBachelor's Degree$60,745$37,500
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesAssociate's Degree$60,464$30,716
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$60,193$26,000
Social Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$59,883$29,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$58,195$27,750
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$58,105$26,000
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree$57,997$18,500
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$57,055Not available
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$56,877$26,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$56,114Not available
Business/Corporate CommunicationsBachelor's Degree$55,840$26,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree$55,741$24,410
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$55,505$25,875
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's Degree$54,654$20,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$54,488Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$53,362$26,263
Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,932$26,000
HistoryBachelor's Degree$52,871$26,322
Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree$52,329$23,673
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$52,131$26,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$51,635$27,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree$50,866$26,000
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$50,640$27,000
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,299$26,000
Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$49,772$26,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,543$27,000
SociologyBachelor's Degree$49,197$26,000
Research and Experimental PsychologyBachelor's Degree$48,348$27,000
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory ProgramsBachelor's Degree$47,620$27,000
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesAssociate's Degree$46,356$18,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$45,943$28,000
Natural Resources and Conservation, OtherBachelor's Degree$45,833$27,000
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralBachelor's Degree$45,170$24,638
Education, GeneralBachelor's Degree$44,984$27,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$44,913$27,000
MusicBachelor's Degree$44,241$26,923
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsBachelor's Degree$43,919$23,250
ForestryAssociate's Degree$42,466Not available
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree$40,545$24,113
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$40,036$27,000
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementAssociate's Degree$37,069Not available
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical SciencesBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,187
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's DegreeNot available$28,252
ForestryBachelor's DegreeNot available$21,429
Area StudiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$27,000
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsBachelor's DegreeNot available$20,810
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and ResearchBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,000
Engineering, GeneralUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaNot available$27,000
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's DegreeNot available$13,000
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's DegreeNot available$22,560
Sustainability StudiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$23,125
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaNot available$26,965
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsPost-baccalaureate CertificateNot available$19,323

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.