U.S. median for this major: $106,290.
College Scorecard field of study; 60 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 27% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,750.
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 Materials Sciences: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Pennsylvania colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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.
Materials Sciences 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 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 1.9 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 2.3 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 2.8 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 Materials Sciences graduates 4 years after graduating ($92,864) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $57,067 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.
Materials Sciences at Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Materials Sciences 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 | Carnegie Mellon University | $119,715 | — | $31,944 | 94% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University | $92,864 | $24,750 | $32,875 | 86% |
1 more Pennsylvania college offers Materials Sciences but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Materials Sciences graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Chemists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% 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
- Chemistry$65,230
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$69,083
- Physics$81,763
- Geology / Earth Science$81,092
- Astronomy and Astrophysics$66,759
- Physical Sciences—
Pennsylvania State University Materials Sciences questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Materials Sciences graduates earn?
Materials Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $92,864 four years after graduating and $72,216 one year after. The U.S. median for Materials Sciences graduates across 2 colleges is $106,290.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Materials Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Materials Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $24,750, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,750.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Materials Sciences in Pennsylvania?
Of 2 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Materials Sciences graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Carnegie Mellon University at $119,715.
What jobs do Materials Sciences graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $150,520 in the State College, PA area and $171,270 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers and chemists.
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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 Materials Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/materials-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).