# Pennsylvania State University: Materials Sciences (bachelor's)

University Park, PA. IPEDS 214777, CIP 40.10. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/materials-sciences

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $72,216
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $92,864 (U.S. median for this major: $106,290 across 2 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $24,750 (U.S. median $24,750)
- Rank in PA: 2 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: -$13,426

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.2 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $92,864 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 | 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 |

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

## Materials Sciences at PA colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | $119,715 | not reported | $31,944 | 94% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $92,864 | $24,750 | $32,875 | 86% |

## Careers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041): median wage $150,520 State College, PA, $164,690 PA, $171,270 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.5% by 2035
- Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121): median wage $122,930 State College, PA, $137,900 PA, $167,220 U.S.; U.S. jobs 8.2% by 2035
- Chemists (SOC 19-2031): median wage $107,890 State College, PA, $77,090 PA, $91,240 U.S.; U.S. jobs 6.4% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

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).