U.S. median for this major: $67,399.
College Scorecard field of study; 44 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $27,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University Architecture: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Architecture nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Pennsylvania State University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $19,845 | $83,349 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 3.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Architecture graduates 4 years after graduating ($76,181) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $40,384 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Architecture at Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Architecture graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University | $76,181 | $30,440 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | $73,439 | — | $31,944 | 94% |
| 3 | Drexel University | $72,915 | $31,000 | $38,509 | 78% |
| 4 | Marywood University | $67,178 | $31,000 | $23,388 | 72% |
5 more Pennsylvania colleges offer Architecture but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Architecture graduates
Architect
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Civil Engineering$81,403
- Landscape Architecture$74,363
Pennsylvania State University Architecture questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Architecture graduates earn?
Architecture graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $76,181 four years after graduating and $60,898 one year after. The U.S. median for Architecture graduates across 77 colleges is $67,399.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Architecture graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Architecture graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $30,440, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $27,000.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Architecture in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Architecture graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $76,181 four years out, $3,004 above the median for the same major across 4 Pennsylvania colleges ($73,177) and $8,782 above the U.S. median ($67,399). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Architecture in Pennsylvania?
Of 4 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Architecture graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Architecture graduates get?
A common career is architect, with a median wage of $93,820 in the State College, PA area and $99,280 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers.
Is Pennsylvania State University the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Pennsylvania State University Architecture: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/architecture (College Scorecard and BLS data).