# Pennsylvania State University

Public college in University Park, PA. IPEDS ID 214777.
Source page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus · Data: https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus.json · Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score

## Key numbers
- Acceptance rate: 61% (Fall 2024, College Scorecard)
- Average net price after grants: $32,875 per year (AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25)
- Graduation rate (6 years): 86%; beats 92% of PA colleges and 94% nationwide
- Median earnings 10 years after starting: $63,435; beats 54% of PA colleges and 77% nationwide
- Median debt at graduation: $19,500

## Net price by family income (per year, after grants)
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $19,845 |
| 30-48k | $20,049 |
| 48-75k | $25,667 |
| 75-110k | $31,834 |
| 110k+ | $37,831 |

Average after grants for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, in-state. Negative values mean grants exceed cost.

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
Graduates took 4.2 years on average (70% finished in 4 years; Fall 2017 entrants, IPEDS). Earnings gain = $63,435 (median earnings of former students 10 years after starting college (College Scorecard)) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $19,845 | $83,349 | 3.0 years |
| 30-48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 3.0 years |
| 48-75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 3.9 years |
| 75-110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 4.8 years |
| 110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 5.7 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Sticker price
- Cost of attendance: $39,694 in-state; about $60,840 out-of-state
- Tuition and fees: $20,644 in-state, $41,790 out-of-state
- Housing and meals: $13,030; books: $1,840

## Admissions
- SAT reading & writing: 620–700; SAT math: 620–720; ACT: 27–32 (25th–75th percentile, Fall 2024)
- Fall 2023: 85,956 applicants, 46,605 admitted, 9,040 enrolled; test scores considered but not required
- Fall 2024: acceptance 61%, ACT 27–32 (College Scorecard)
- Fall 2023: acceptance 54%, ACT 27–32 (IPEDS Admissions)

### Common Data Set 2025-26 (Fall 2025)
- Very important: gpa; important: rigor; considered: test scores, talent, geography, state residency
- Early decision: no; early action: yes; waitlist: yes (46 admitted of 1153 who accepted a spot)
- Average high school GPA of enrolled first-years: 3.67
- Aid (full-time first-years): average 68.6% of need met; 1484 of 3407 with need fully met; merit aid to students without need: 552 students, average $6,026
- Source: https://opair.psu.edu/files/2026/09/CDS_2025_2026_UniversityPark_v3.pdf

## Majors (141 bachelor's majors)
| Major | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $84,050 | $120,729 | $26,000 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $85,795 | $113,669 | $22,368 |
| Computer Engineering | $85,446 | $112,269 | $26,708 |
| Industrial Engineering | $78,975 | $104,758 | $25,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $67,306 | $104,205 | $24,028 |
| Chemical Engineering | $82,218 | $103,728 | $26,831 |
| Engineering, Other | $73,153 | $102,134 | $26,000 |
| Computer Science | $72,884 | $101,854 | $28,000 |
| Biomedical Engineering | $76,531 | $100,416 | $24,164 |
| Engineering Science | $79,909 | $100,176 | $26,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical / Space Engineering | $73,100 | $99,159 | $26,969 |
| Information Technology | $73,941 | $98,637 | $26,917 |
| Finance | $68,552 | $96,714 | $25,375 |
| Management Information Systems | $66,169 | $95,935 | $26,000 |
| Architectural Engineering | $80,070 | $94,483 | $31,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $78,218 | $94,365 | $24,799 |
| Electrical Engineering | $74,958 | $93,277 | $27,000 |
| Materials Sciences | $72,216 | $92,864 | $24,750 |
| Information Science / Studies | $66,209 | $91,671 | $26,000 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | not reported | $91,411 | not reported |
| Nursing | $77,955 | $91,032 | $27,000 |
| Accounting | $63,425 | $88,192 | $26,000 |
| Engineering | $68,331 | $88,063 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,772 | $87,997 | $27,000 |
| Polymer / Plastics Engineering | $68,438 | $87,636 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $62,382 | $87,564 | $27,000 |
| Statistics | $68,254 | $86,636 | $22,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $59,722 | $83,112 | $25,000 |
| Electromechanical Technologies / Technicians | $65,043 | $81,835 | $27,000 |
| Physics | $43,461 | $81,763 | $23,830 |
| Human Resources | $58,884 | $81,755 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $35,324 | $81,617 | $26,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $67,966 | $81,403 | $26,838 |
| Economics | $55,418 | $81,228 | $25,000 |
| Geology / Earth Science | $53,908 | $81,092 | $26,000 |
| Environmental Engineering | $61,414 | $80,855 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | not reported | $80,105 | not reported |
| Marketing | $50,729 | $79,343 | $25,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians | $64,874 | $79,342 | $27,334 |
| Entrepreneurship | $47,840 | $78,476 | $26,000 |
| Biochemistry | $43,288 | $77,336 | $26,178 |
| Mathematics | $59,629 | $77,336 | $25,000 |
| Surveying Engineering | not reported | $77,094 | not reported |
| Public Relations and Advertising | $50,587 | $76,246 | $24,693 |
| Architecture | $60,898 | $76,181 | $30,440 |
| Biology / Biotechnology Technologies / Technicians | not reported | $75,919 | not reported |
| Health Administration | $49,749 | $75,396 | $26,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | $58,304 | $74,363 | $30,999 |
| Agricultural Business | $50,136 | $73,471 | $26,000 |
| Management Science / Analytics | $58,140 | $73,308 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration | $51,562 | $72,218 | $27,000 |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | $36,426 | $72,063 | $26,825 |
| International Relations | $45,858 | $71,001 | $25,000 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $49,872 | $69,540 | $26,925 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $35,639 | $69,102 | $26,000 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $42,595 | $69,083 | $26,000 |
| Geography | $46,477 | $68,993 | $26,000 |
| Political Science | $41,201 | $68,918 | $26,000 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $30,133 | $67,399 | $27,000 |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | $39,030 | $66,876 | $24,937 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $39,582 | $66,866 | $26,500 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | $39,728 | $66,759 | $24,678 |
| Security / Homeland Security | $49,782 | $66,084 | $27,000 |
| Philosophy | $17,881 | $65,675 | $23,878 |
| Business | $45,110 | $65,292 | $27,000 |
| Chemistry | $47,009 | $65,230 | $27,000 |
| Biology | $33,417 | $64,910 | $26,000 |
| Hospitality Management | $39,808 | $63,798 | $24,500 |
| Nutrition Science | $25,673 | $63,010 | $26,000 |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | $45,050 | $62,831 | $23,250 |
| Journalism | $36,468 | $62,336 | $25,000 |
| Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders | $16,853 | $62,072 | $25,000 |
| Legal Studies / Paralegal | $53,237 | $60,745 | $37,500 |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | $37,330 | $60,193 | $26,000 |
| Social Sciences | $40,584 | $59,883 | $29,500 |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | $37,834 | $58,195 | $27,750 |
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | $43,324 | $58,105 | $26,000 |
| Criminal Justice | $37,240 | $56,877 | $26,000 |
| Business / Corporate Communications | $32,445 | $55,840 | $26,000 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $35,132 | $55,741 | $24,410 |
| Communications | $34,181 | $55,505 | $25,875 |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | not reported | $54,488 | not reported |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $45,795 | $53,362 | $26,263 |
| Agriculture | $38,606 | $52,932 | $26,000 |
| History | $28,803 | $52,871 | $26,322 |
| Plant Sciences | not reported | $52,329 | $23,673 |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $50,006 | $52,131 | $26,000 |
| Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences | $33,153 | $51,635 | $27,000 |
| Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $34,699 | $50,866 | $26,000 |
| Anthropology | $23,716 | $50,640 | $27,000 |
| English | $29,848 | $50,299 | $26,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $33,182 | $49,772 | $26,000 |
| Psychology | $32,408 | $49,543 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $35,016 | $49,197 | $26,000 |
| Psychology (Research) | $34,375 | $48,348 | $27,000 |
| Agriculture / Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $28,939 | $47,620 | $27,000 |
| Human Development and Family Studies | $34,030 | $45,943 | $28,000 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $29,139 | $45,833 | $27,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $25,702 | $45,170 | $24,638 |
| Education | $39,035 | $44,984 | $27,000 |
| Theatre | $27,886 | $44,913 | $27,000 |
| Music | $18,462 | $44,241 | $26,923 |
| Film and Photography | $30,697 | $43,919 | $23,250 |
| Studio Art | $23,086 | $40,036 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Agricultural Public Services | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | $35,700 | not reported | $26,187 |
| Environmental / Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | not reported | $28,252 |
| Forestry | $41,189 | not reported | $21,429 |
| Area Studies | not reported | not reported | $27,000 |
| Data Processing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Software and Media Applications | $74,497 | not reported | $20,810 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | not reported | not reported | $26,000 |
| Special Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Education, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $81,472 | not reported | not reported |
| Linguistics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| East Asian Languages (Chinese / Japanese / Korean) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| German | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Classics | not reported | not reported | $22,560 |
| Writing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Applied Mathematics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Science, Technology and Society | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Sustainability Studies | $59,456 | not reported | $23,125 |
| Geography and Environmental Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Data Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Religious Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Physical Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Policy Analysis | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Archeology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Social Sciences, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dance | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Arts and Entertainment Management | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Pre-Med / Pre-Health | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Business Economics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| International Business | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Major to career
- Business → Management analyst: median wage $60,890 (State College, PA), $93,830 (PA), $101,860 (U.S.)
- Nursing → Registered nurse: median wage $81,480 (State College, PA), $96,430 (PA), $97,550 (U.S.)

## Sources and years
- Net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; cost of attendance: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; tuition: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; earnings: Treasury AY2009-10, AY2010-11 pooled cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars; debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
- Major earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).