Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences: earnings, debt & careers

Plant Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $52,329 four years after graduating, with median federal loan debt of $23,673. That is $4,119 below the U.S. median for Plant Sciences graduates ($56,448 across 44 colleges), and ranks 1st of 3 Pennsylvania colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$52,329

U.S. median for this major: $56,448.

College Scorecard field of study; 24 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
—

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$23,673

About 45% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,500.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$32,875 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $39,694. College Scorecard.

Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Pennsylvania State University graduates$52,329
Pennsylvania median (3 colleges)$48,031 (+$4,298)
U.S. median (44 colleges)$56,448 (−$4,119)

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.

Plant 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 incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$19,845$83,3495.0 years
$30–48k$20,049$84,2065.1 years
$48–75k$25,667$107,8016.5 years
$75–110k$31,834$133,7038.1 years
$110k+$37,831$158,8909.6 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 Plant Sciences graduates 4 years after graduating ($52,329) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,532 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.

Plant Sciences at Pennsylvania colleges

Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Plant Sciences graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Pennsylvania State University$52,329$23,673$32,87586%
2Delaware Valley University$48,031—$28,27856%
3Temple University$35,728—$28,19875%

Careers for Plant Sciences graduates

Conservation Scientists

Pennsylvania$61,480
U.S.$73,010

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Soil and Plant Scientists

Pennsylvania$70,550
U.S.$78,850

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.7% 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

Related majors at Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences questions

How much do Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences graduates earn?

Plant Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $52,329 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Plant Sciences graduates across 44 colleges is $56,448.

How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Plant Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $23,673, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,500.

Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Plant Sciences in Pennsylvania?

On pay, Plant Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $52,329 four years out, $4,298 above the median for the same major across 3 Pennsylvania colleges ($48,031) and $4,119 below the U.S. median ($56,448). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Plant Sciences in Pennsylvania?

Of 3 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Plant Sciences graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Plant Sciences graduates get?

A common career is conservation scientists, with a median wage of $61,480 in Pennsylvania and $73,010 nationally. Others include soil and plant scientists.

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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
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Cite this: “Pennsylvania State University Plant Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/plant-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).