U.S. median for this major: $88,268.
College Scorecard field of study; 46 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 31% 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 $34,081. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Polymer / Plastics Engineering: 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.
Polymer / Plastics Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College'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 | $16,092 | $70,161 | 1.4 years |
| $30–48k | $17,884 | $77,974 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $20,539 | $89,550 | 1.7 years |
| $75–110k | $26,914 | $117,345 | 2.3 years |
| $110k+ | $29,692 | $129,457 | 2.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($87,636) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $51,839 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.
Polymer / Plastics Engineering at Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania College of Technologybachelor's & associate | $88,433 | $27,875 | $25,110 | 53% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | $87,636 | $27,000 | $24,558 | 44% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University | $87,636 | $27,000 | $32,875 | 86% |
Careers for Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Materials Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Chemical Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.7% 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-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
- Acceptance rate: 97% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 44% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Polymer / Plastics Engineering questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates earn?
Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College earn a median $87,636 four years after graduating and $68,438 one year after. The U.S. median for Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates across 6 colleges is $88,268.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is $27,000, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $27,000.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College a good school for Polymer / Plastics Engineering in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College earn $87,636 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Pennsylvania colleges ($87,636) and $632 below the U.S. median ($88,268). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College rank for Polymer / Plastics Engineering in Pennsylvania?
Of 3 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College ranks 2nd; among the 2 that mostly award bachelor's degrees it ranks 1st. The highest is Pennsylvania College of Technology at $88,433.
What jobs do Polymer / Plastics Engineering graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $149,380 in the Erie, PA area and $171,270 nationally. Others include materials engineers and chemical engineers.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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
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Cite this: “Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Polymer / Plastics Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-erie-behrend-college/majors/polymer-plastics-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).