# Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona: Visual and Performing Arts (bachelor's)

Altoona, PA. IPEDS 214689, CIP 50.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-altoona/majors/visual-and-performing-arts

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $25,702
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $45,170 (U.S. median for this major: $41,156 across 62 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $24,638 (U.S. median $25,773)
- Rank in PA: 1 of 4 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the PA median for this major (5 colleges, $45,170): +$0
- Versus the U.S. median: +$4,014

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.25 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $45,170 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 | $16,017 | $68,072 | 7.3 years |
| 30-48k | $16,546 | $70,321 | 7.5 years |
| 48-75k | $19,464 | $82,722 | 8.8 years |
| 75-110k | $23,562 | $100,139 | 10.7 years |
| 110k+ | $28,263 | $120,118 | 12.8 years |

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

## Visual and Performing Arts at PA colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | $45,170 | $24,638 | $22,213 | 17% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $45,170 | $24,638 | $32,875 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | $45,170 | $24,638 | $18,071 | 20% |
| Temple University | $42,731 | $26,500 | $28,198 | 75% |

## Careers
- Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024): median wage $50,530 Altoona, PA, $60,730 PA, $62,960 U.S.; U.S. jobs -1.7% by 2035
- Art Directors (SOC 27-1011): median wage not reported Altoona, PA, $97,450 PA, $114,850 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4.2% 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).