Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 39% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 77th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (PA wage index 0.97). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $84,050 | $120,729 | +31% | #43 of 459 | #43 | $25,000 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $85,795 | $113,669 | +8% | #7 of 19 | #9 | $22,837 |
| Computer Engineering | $85,446 | $112,269 | +3% | #69 of 189 | #62 | $26,471 |
| Industrial Engineering | $78,975 | $104,758 | +6% | #21 of 94 | #22 | $24,250 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | $67,306 | $104,205 | +49% | #2 of 37 | #1 | $21,489 |
| Chemical Engineering | $82,218 | $103,728 | +6% | #33 of 158 | #44 | $26,706 |
| Engineering | $73,153 | $102,134 | +9% | #6 of 19 | #4 | $25,500 |
| Computer Science | $72,884 | $101,854 | -5% | #157 of 349 | #151 | $27,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $76,531 | $100,416 | +7% | #28 of 118 | #23 | $24,164 |
| Engineering Science | $79,909 | $100,176 | +7% | #3 of 9 | #3 | $22,028 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $73,100 | $99,159 | +1% | #22 of 59 | #26 | $26,969 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $73,941 | $98,637 | +16% | #20 of 99 | #24 | $26,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $68,552 | $96,714 | +16% | #75 of 452 | #57 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $66,169 | $95,935 | +15% | #29 of 166 | #38 | $26,000 |
| Architectural Engineering | $80,070 | $94,483 | +6% | #2 of 16 | #3 | $31,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $78,218 | $94,365 | -5% | #7 of 12 | #9 | $24,623 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $74,958 | $93,277 | -7% | #215 of 258 | #195 | $26,000 |
| Materials Sciences | $72,216 | $92,864 | -2% | — | — | $23,224 |
| Information Science/Studies | $66,209 | $91,671 | +7% | #35 of 148 | #35 | $25,950 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | — | $91,411 | -10% | #6 of 7 | #6 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $77,955 | $91,032 | +2% | #329 of 966 | #334 | $23,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,425 | $88,192 | +16% | #137 of 796 | #133 | $25,218 |
| Engineering | $68,331 | $88,063 | -1% | #30 of 57 | #30 | $25,949 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,772 | $87,997 | -4% | #241 of 318 | #209 | $26,723 |
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $68,438 | $87,636 | -6% | #6 of 6 | #4 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $62,382 | $87,564 | +3% | #9 of 26 | #10 | $27,000 |
| Statistics | $68,254 | $86,636 | -6% | #26 of 50 | #24 | $21,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $59,722 | $83,112 | +17% | #3 of 29 | #2 | $25,000 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $65,043 | $81,835 | -3% | #19 of 23 | #15 | $27,000 |
| Physics | $43,461 | $81,763 | +6% | #45 of 107 | #37 | $23,299 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $58,884 | $81,755 | +20% | #26 of 187 | #26 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | $35,324 | $81,617 | +24% | #8 of 17 | #5 | $25,601 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $81,472 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | $67,966 | $81,403 | -6% | #172 of 233 | #159 | $26,000 |
| Economics | $55,418 | $81,228 | -2% | #172 of 368 | #136 | $24,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $53,908 | $81,092 | +35% | #4 of 138 | #4 | $25,648 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $61,414 | $80,855 | +-0% | #25 of 46 | #20 | $26,869 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields | — | $80,105 | +22% | #2 of 5 | #2 | — |
| Marketing | $50,729 | $79,343 | +14% | #76 of 516 | #72 | $24,947 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $64,874 | $79,342 | -3% | #45 of 61 | #40 | $27,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $47,840 | $78,476 | +29% | #12 of 67 | #13 | $25,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $43,288 | $77,336 | +18% | #20 of 110 | #10 | $25,750 |
| Mathematics | $59,629 | $77,336 | +11% | #102 of 309 | #87 | $23,875 |
| Surveying Engineering | — | $77,094 | -2% | — | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $50,587 | $76,246 | +20% | #23 of 178 | #15 | $23,250 |
| Architecture | $60,898 | $76,181 | +14% | #9 of 78 | #11 | $30,440 |
| Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians | — | $75,919 | +20% | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $49,749 | $75,396 | +28% | #42 of 275 | #36 | $25,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $74,497 | — | — | — | — | $22,121 |
| Landscape Architecture | $58,304 | $74,363 | +12% | #3 of 19 | #4 | $29,966 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 16669 (3.9% cap, Petersburg)
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🏆 Where Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $19,672 | $39,626 |
| Room | $7,614 | |
| Board | $5,416 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $39,892 | $59,846 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,458 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,743 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,257 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,579 |
| $110,001+ | $37,209 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
How much does it cost to attend Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (D): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Is there rental demand near Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology