U.S. median for this major: $78,569.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 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 29% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,490.
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 Physics: 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.
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 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 2.9 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 3.5 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 Physics graduates 4 years after graduating ($81,763) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $45,966 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.
Physics at Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Physics 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 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | $91,610 | — | $23,726 | 56% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | $81,763 | $23,830 | $24,558 | 44% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University | $81,763 | $23,830 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | $81,763 | $23,830 | $18,071 | 20% |
| 5 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | $74,813 | — | $21,331 | 54% |
| 6 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | $73,703 | — | $15,699 | 54% |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | $64,837 | $29,000 | $16,804 | 56% |
46 more Pennsylvania colleges offer Physics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Physics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% 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.
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
- Astronomy and Astrophysics$66,759
- Physical Sciences—
- Geology / Earth Science$81,092
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$69,083
- Materials Sciences$92,864
Pennsylvania State University Physics questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Physics graduates earn?
Physics graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $81,763 four years after graduating and $43,461 one year after. The U.S. median for Physics graduates across 107 colleges is $78,569.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Physics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Physics graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $23,830, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,490.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Physics in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Physics graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $81,763 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 7 Pennsylvania colleges ($81,763) and $3,194 above the U.S. median ($78,569). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Physics in Pennsylvania?
Of 7 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Physics graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 3rd. The highest is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania at $91,610.
What jobs do Physics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $73,250 in the State College, PA area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers.
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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 Physics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/physics (College Scorecard and BLS data).