WhatGradsMake
Master's+18% vs national median408 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 18th of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$80,289
middle 50%: $53,926 – $112,807
Median · 5 years out
$97,731
middle 50%: $68,121 – $134,912
Median · 10 years out
$123,282
middle 50%: $86,717 – $178,195

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Pennsylvania State University (The)'s master's program in Physical Sciences earn a median $80,289 one year after graduating, rising to $123,282 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 18% above the national median of $83,137 for this field, ranking 18th of 132 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
4 yrs
≈ $4,217 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Texas at Dallas
$101,795 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$100,394 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$98,392 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$98,232 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$97,859 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Sacred Heart University
$97,110 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$96,448 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$96,190 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$95,660 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$94,389 · 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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