WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-20% vs national median106 grads tracked

Area Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 53rd of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,840
middle 50%: $23,626 – $44,785
Median · 5 years out
$49,659
middle 50%: $34,252 – $65,986
Median · 10 years out
$74,110
middle 50%: $52,071 – $99,492

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Area Studies (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Pennsylvania State University (The)'s bachelor's program in Area Studies earn a median $34,840 one year after graduating, rising to $74,110 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 20% below the national median of $61,940 for this field, ranking 53rd of 67 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,863 total interest

Same major at other universities

Utah State University
$50,572 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$50,539 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$50,129 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$50,050 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$49,582 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$49,217 · 5 yrs out
Gustavus Adolphus College
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$48,829 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$47,645 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$47,255 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
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Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
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