Physics at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Bachelor's Degree · about 56 graduates a year
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduates in physics earn 6% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 28% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Compares for Physics
All 107 colleges reporting physics earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | $131,025 | $115,381 | #2 | $54,773 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $118,649 | $112,929 | #3 | $50,933 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $110,029 | $118,041 | #1 | — |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $111,046 | #4 | $62,647 |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #7 | $48,169 |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #8 | $48,169 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA | $99,842 | $91,833 | #15 | $65,316 |
| 8 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA | $99,165 | $87,325 | #29 | — |
| 9 | Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY | $99,009 | $94,236 | #13 | — |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $96,805 | $88,086 | #22 | — |
| … | |||||
| 42 | Illinois State University Normal, IL | $81,949 | $80,514 | #42 | — |
| 43 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | $81,840 | $77,895 | #49 | $60,348 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #36 | $43,461 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #37 | $43,461 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Abington, PA | $81,763 | $83,154 | #38 | $43,461 |
| 47 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | $81,696 | $83,944 | #33 | $30,503 |
| 48 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ | $81,696 | $83,944 | #34 | $30,503 |
Other Physics Credentials at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $103,672 | $150,865 | — |
Other Majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus physics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $43,461 one year after graduating and $81,763 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranks #45 by median pay four years after graduation, and #37 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus worth it?
Its graduates earn 6% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $23,299.
← All data for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.