WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+18% vs national median2,562 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 18th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$49,399
middle 50%: $34,346 – $70,366
Median · 5 years out
$77,847
middle 50%: $56,289 – $103,441
Median · 10 years out
$103,978
middle 50%: $73,931 – $144,825

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (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 Physical Sciences earn a median $49,399 one year after graduating, rising to $103,978 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 18% above the national median of $66,057 for this field, ranking 18th of 321 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
5.6 yrs
≈ $6,425 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Saint Thomas
$79,598 · 5 yrs out
Butler University
$79,444 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Maritime College
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$78,398 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$78,062 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$78,000 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$77,465 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$77,457 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$77,259 · 5 yrs out
Sweet Briar College
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$76,658 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$76,285 · 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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