Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 109 programs with available earnings data.
#42 nationally
$66K median earnings
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
Engineering & Technology graduates earn 82K on average, with 8 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence. | #42 | $101,544★ | $47,983 | 308 |
| Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| #16 |
| $97,095 |
| $56,000 |
| 120 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | #50 | $95,541 | $38,902 | 144 |
| Computer Support Specialist. | #2 | $93,803 | $37,051 | 445 |
| Engineering Science. | #3 | $91,355 | — | 49 |
| Industrial Engineering. | #21 | $89,689 | $45,565 | 228 |
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering. | — | $88,718 | — | 32 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General. | #23 | $88,540 | $56,000 | 134 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other. | #74 | $87,418 | $48,257 | 191 |
| Architectural Engineering. | #3 | $86,385 | $38,448 | 70 |
| Petroleum Engineering. | #13 | $85,849 | — | 53 |
| Nuclear Engineering. | #9 | $84,030 | — | 46 |
| Audio Engineering Technology/Technician.Small sample | #13 | $83,570 | — | 11 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering. | #136 | $83,362 | $43,779 | 299 |
| Engineering, Other. | #8 | $80,788 | $53,474 | 72 |
| Information Science/Studies. | #12 | $80,233 | $34,507 | 976 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | #132 | $79,806 | $46,650 | 588 |
| Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician. | #17 | $75,757 | $35,500 | 33 |
| Civil Engineering, General. | #83 | $74,766 | $39,958 | 302 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | #9 | $74,538 | — | 46 |
| Computer Graphics. | #8 | $74,497 | — | 53 |
| Agricultural Engineering. | #15 | $73,303 | $57,770 | 49 |
| Applied Engineering. | #16 | $72,839 | — | 27 |
| Automation Engineer Technology/Technician. | #4 | $65,043 | $29,750 | 104 |
| Surveying Engineering.Small sample | — | $59,722 | — | 6 |
| Computer Science. | #189 | $57,318 | — | 21 |
Business & Economics graduates earn 66K on average, with 3 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | #23 | $90,308★ | $47,633 | 705 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | #2 | $86,497 | $43,800 | 88 |
| Information Resources Management. | #17 | $81,475 | $33,844 | 111 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | #38 | $75,436 | $40,000 | 504 |
| Digital Marketing. | #20 | $72,396 | $39,834 | 376 |
| Executive/Career Coaching. | #14 | $69,139 | $54,088 | 361 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | #252 | $61,817 | $44,000 | 68 |
| Actuarial Science. | #64 | $59,094 | $29,645 | 124 |
| International Business.Small sample | #52 | $59,046 | — | 12 |
| Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management. | #10 | $56,529 | $49,073 | 190 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | #33 | $53,528 | $29,500 | 668 |
| Business/Corporate Communications, General. | #4 | $49,282 | $10,000 | 59 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other. | #19 | $47,840 | — | 41 |
Health graduates earn 57K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | #67 | $79,755★ | $27,436 | 597 |
| Clinical Research Coordinator. | #10 | $64,295 | $53,081 | 190 |
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist. | #60 | $55,080 | $59,114 | 146 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other.Small sample | #89 | $43,581 | — | 16 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy. | #12 | $43,218 | $40,348 | 191 |
Sciences & Mathematics graduates earn 63K on average, with 5 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Chemistry. | #1 🏆 | $81,214★ | $46,500 | 101 |
| Mathematical Statistics and Probability. | #18 | $78,209 | — | 132 |
| Algebra and Number Theory. | #48 | $74,119 | $51,322 | 237 |
| Geochemistry and Petrology. | #2 | $69,558 | $60,726 | 155 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other. | #1 🏆 | $65,560 | $51,969 | 415 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other. | #1 🏆 | $60,953 | — | 31 |
| Biology, General. | #77 | $57,237 | $47,373 | 447 |
| Analytical Chemistry. | #76 | $57,134 | — | 48 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. | #51 | $56,135 | $52,000 | 103 |
| Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology. | #3 | $52,541 | — | 51 |
| Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians. | — | $50,000 | — | 23 |
| Acoustics. | #48 | $49,519 | $62,875 | 66 |
Applied Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 75K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | #73 | $75,421★ | $51,204 | 624 |
| International Relations and Affairs. | #35 | $57,600 | $56,501 | 220 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | #113 | $56,686 | $53,919 | 249 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | #183 | $48,984 | $68,086 | 51 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography. | #52 | $47,996 | — | 33 |
| Psychology, General. | #192 | $42,971 | $40,784 | 809 |
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods. | #31 | $40,584 | — | 38 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience. | #47 | $37,289 | — | 67 |
| Anthropology, General. | #102 | $35,525 | — | 26 |
Communications graduates earn 49K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising. | #8 | $63,112★ | $51,386 | 391 |
| Broadcast Journalism. | #11 | $52,838 | $50,240 | 240 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other.Small sample | #3 | $48,181 | — | 17 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | #191 | $41,416 | $32,162 | 284 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. | #56 | $39,030 | $56,989 | 184 |
Commercial Photography. leads humanities & arts with 55K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Photography. | #44 | $54,690★ | — | 30 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics. | #11 | $54,634 | — | 43 |
| Catalan Language and Literature. | #48 | $52,733 | $49,782 | 108 |
| American History (United States). | #218 | $42,555 | $55,076 | 103 |
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production. | #55 | $40,390 | $82,256 | 59 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #197 | $40,039 | $46,574 | 157 |
| General Studies. | #188 | $39,159 | $37,214 | 71 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation. | #194 | $36,812 | $64,101 | 47 |
| Digital Arts. | #20 | $35,797 | — | 31 |
| Brass Instruments. | #117 | $33,095 | — | 37 |
| Acting. | #69 | $30,915 | — | 34 |
| Creative Writing.Small sample | — | $21,323 | — | 8 |
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. leads education with 56K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed.Small sample | #18 | $55,884★ | — | 10 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education. | #96 | $47,521 | — | 38 |
| Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching. | #73 | $46,497 | $47,055 | 323 |
Agriculture & Environment graduates earn 44K on average, with 3 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewing Science. | #9 | $66,938★ | — | 37 |
| Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations. | #25 | $57,073 | $45,127 | 109 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services. | #3 | $52,467 | $40,000 | 47 |
| Environmental Science. | #46 | $49,577 | $33,495 | 57 |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding. | #26 | $44,091 | — | 32 |
| Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine. | — | $40,485 | — | 46 |
| Agricultural Animal Breeding. | #37 | $40,418 | $28,474 | 86 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other. | — | $39,123 | $24,000 | 44 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management.Small sample | #29 | $36,674 | — | 18 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs, Other. | #4 | $35,455 | $62,217 | 69 |
| Agriculture, General. | #36 | $27,048 | — | 26 |
Criminal Justice graduates earn 51K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminalistics and Criminal Science. | #10 | $53,723★ | — | 38 |
| Corrections Administration. | #102 | $47,461 | $33,825 | 453 |
Other & Interdisciplinary graduates earn 47K on average, with 5 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape Architecture. | #2 | $70,038★ | — | 32 |
| Architectural Design. | #7 | $69,285 | — | 30 |
| Sustainability Studies. | #3 | $59,456 | — | 23 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | #4 | $55,008 | $50,408 | 210 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | #84 | $50,720 | $56,484 | 287 |
| Legal Studies. | #12 | $50,556 | — | 29 |
| Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management. | #9 | $45,931 | $45,352 | 129 |
| Adult Development and Aging. | #44 | $38,637 | $26,200 | 282 |
| African-American/Black Studies. | #73 | $36,426 | $55,200 | 43 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | #39 | $25,673 | $69,567 | 80 |
| African Studies.Small sample | #67 | $17,396 | — | 17 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
