WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+1% vs national median58 grads tracked

Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 5th of 15 bachelor's programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$38,692
middle 50%: $30,437 – $78,709
Median · 5 years out
$70,441
middle 50%: $38,967 – $89,277
Median · 10 years out
$107,201
middle 50%: $75,329 – $140,692

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Astronomy and Astrophysics (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 Astronomy and Astrophysics earn a median $38,692 one year after graduating, rising to $107,201 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $69,418 for this field, ranking 5th of 15 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,644 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York at Stony Brook
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$74,768 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$73,565 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$73,014 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$70,012 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$69,727 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$69,418 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$67,174 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$67,000 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$59,353 · 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

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