Doctoral (Research)+6% vs national median807 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 14th of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$72,087
middle 50%: $54,072 – $110,384
Median · 5 years out
$113,053
middle 50%: $80,568 – $147,491
Median · 10 years out
$135,810
middle 50%: $100,575 – $180,957
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Research doctorate holders in physical sciences earn $72k in year one. Salaries climb to $136k by year ten.
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
4 yrs
≈ $4,384 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Arizona (The)
$123,409 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$117,848 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$115,982 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$115,783 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$115,698 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$114,494 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$112,267 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$111,787 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$110,871 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$110,705 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$110,137 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$109,526 · 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