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Programs & majors brief

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# Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Majors & Programs

Updated October 1, 2026

[Overview](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/)[Cost & aid](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at Penn State?

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus fields 80 ranked bachelor's programs, and the earnings spread across its largest fields is wide. Computer and Information Sciences leads with a median of $120,729 four years after completion, ranking #24 nationally in the field on 395 degrees awarded.

Finance follows at $96,714 and an Azimuth national rank of #40, with 449 degrees awarded. Further down the earnings scale, Psychology reports a median of $49,543 and ranks #197 nationally, on 427 degrees awarded.

Information Science/Studies sits between the highest and moderate earners at $91,671, ranking #14 nationally with 448 degrees awarded. The contrast between the highest- and lowest-earning fields shows the range of earnings four years after completion at the university.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Engineering**1,572 · 15.3%**
-   Business**1,561 · 15.2%**
-   Computer science**1,209 · 11.8%**
-   Communication**780 · 7.6%**
-   Social sciences**752 · 7.3%**
-   Other**4,410 · 42.9%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

106 of 106 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Computer and Information Sciences, General 395 degrees awarded**
$120,729

**Petroleum Engineering 32 degrees awarded**
$113,669

**Computer Engineering 81 degrees awarded**
$112,269

**Industrial Engineering 154 degrees awarded**
$104,758

**Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other 80 degrees awarded**
$104,205

**Chemical Engineering 172 degrees awarded**
$103,728

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 395 | $120,729 | #24 |
| Petroleum Engineering | 32 | $113,669 | #7 |
| Computer Engineering | 81 | $112,269 | #60 |
| Industrial Engineering | 154 | $104,758 | #14 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 80 | $104,205 | #2 |
| Chemical Engineering | 172 | $103,728 | #31 |
| Engineering, Other | 56 | $102,134 | #5 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 89 | $100,416 | #34 |
| Engineering Science | 45 | $100,176 | #2 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 112 | $99,159 | #27 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 234 | $98,637 | #9 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 449 | $96,714 | #40 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 73 | $95,935 | #22 |
| Architectural Engineering | 92 | $94,483 | #2 |
| Nuclear Engineering | 22 | $94,365 | #8 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 182 | $93,277 | #137 |
| Materials Sciences | 69 | $92,864 | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 448 | $91,671 | #14 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering small degree count | 7 | $91,411 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 138 | $91,032 | #158 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 271 | $88,192 | #60 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 311 | $87,997 | #165 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 41 | $87,564 | #11 |
| Statistics | 84 | $86,636 | #24 |
| Food Science and Technology | 38 | $83,112 | #4 |
| Physics | 50 | $81,763 | #35 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 237 | $81,755 | #11 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 338 | $81,617 | #2 |
| Civil Engineering | 149 | $81,403 | #126 |
| Economics | 369 | $81,228 | #91 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 57 | $81,092 | #3 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 27 | $80,855 | #27 |
| Marketing | 231 | $79,343 | #48 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 59 | $78,476 | #6 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 81 | $77,336 | #18 |
| Mathematics | 165 | $77,336 | #65 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 293 | $76,246 | #13 |
| Architecture | 50 | $76,181 | #6 |
| Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians | 25 | $75,919 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 107 | $75,396 | #10 |
| Landscape Architecture | 31 | $74,363 | #5 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 71 | $73,471 | #21 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 27 | $73,308 | #58 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 17 | $72,063 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 139 | $71,001 | #27 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 27 | $69,540 | #2 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 86 | $69,102 | #3 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 41 | $69,083 | #2 |
| Geography and Cartography | 31 | $68,993 | #20 |
| Political Science and Government | 154 | $68,918 | #82 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 178 | $67,399 | #28 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 182 | $66,876 | #6 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 28 | $66,759 | #4 |
| Security Science and Technology | 31 | $66,084 | #7 |
| Philosophy | 49 | $65,675 | #18 |
| Chemistry | 30 | $65,230 | #102 |
| Biology, General | 253 | $64,910 | #92 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 134 | $63,798 | #19 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 71 | $63,010 | #14 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 71 | $62,831 | #29 |
| Journalism | 190 | $62,336 | #18 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 119 | $62,072 | #42 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 35 | $60,193 | #67 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities small degree count | 13 | $58,195 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 37 | $58,105 | #66 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 187 | $56,877 | #82 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 80 | $55,741 | #3 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 115 | $55,505 | #144 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions small degree count | 15 | $54,488 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 262 | $53,362 | #58 |
| Agriculture, General | 22 | $52,932 | #22 |
| History | 63 | $52,871 | #144 |
| Plant Sciences | 43 | $52,329 | #23 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 44 | $52,131 | #97 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 100 | $51,635 | #16 |
| Anthropology | 27 | $50,640 | #53 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 70 | $50,299 | #147 |
| Animal Sciences | 95 | $49,772 | #37 |
| Psychology, General | 427 | $49,543 | #197 |
| Sociology | 32 | $49,197 | #199 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | 60 | $47,620 | #4 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 82 | $45,943 | #66 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | 26 | $45,833 | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General small degree count | 9 | $45,170 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 34 | $44,913 | #37 |
| Music | 31 | $44,241 | #90 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 68 | $43,919 | #48 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 41 | $40,036 | #166 |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | 43 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Agricultural Public Services small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Forestry | 21 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Area Studies small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 124 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Data Processing small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Special Education and Teaching small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Science, Technology and Society small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Sustainability Studies small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 39 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at Penn State?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Finance and Financial Management Services**
449

**Information Science/Studies**
448

**Psychology, General**
427

**Computer and Information Sciences, General**
395

**Economics**
369

**Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other**
338

**Mechanical Engineering**
311

**Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication**
293

**Accounting and Related Services**
271

**Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods**
262

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

## How do Penn State majors rank nationally?

### National program rankings

1.  Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services**#2**
2.  Architectural Engineering**#2**
3.  Engineering Science**#2**
4.  Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other**#2**
5.  Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology**#2**
6.  Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other**#2**
7.  Biological and Physical Sciences**#3**
8.  Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management**#3**
9.  Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences**#3**
10.  Food Science and Technology**#4**
11.  Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs**#4**
12.  Astronomy and Astrophysics**#4**
13.  Landscape Architecture**#5**
14.  Engineering, Other**#5**
15.  Architecture**#6**
16.  Radio, Television, and Digital Communication**#6**
17.  Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations**#6**
18.  Petroleum Engineering**#7**
19.  Security Science and Technology**#7**
20.  Nuclear Engineering**#8**
21.  Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management**#9**
22.  Health and Medical Administrative Services**#10**
23.  Agricultural Engineering**#11**
24.  Human Resources Management and Services**#11**
25.  Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication**#13**
26.  Information Science/Studies**#14**
27.  Industrial Engineering**#14**
28.  Nutrition Sciences**#14**
29.  Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions**#16**
30.  Journalism**#18**
31.  Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology**#18**
32.  Philosophy**#18**
33.  Hospitality Administration/Management**#19**
34.  Geography and Cartography**#20**
35.  Agricultural Business and Management**#21**
36.  Agriculture, General**#22**
37.  Management Information Systems and Services**#22**
38.  Plant Sciences**#23**
39.  Computer and Information Sciences, General**#24**
40.  Statistics**#24**
41.  Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering**#27**
42.  Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering**#27**
43.  International Relations and National Security Studies**#27**
44.  Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness**#28**
45.  Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics**#29**
46.  Chemical Engineering**#31**
47.  Biomedical/Medical Engineering**#34**
48.  Physics**#35**
49.  Animal Sciences**#37**
50.  Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft**#37**
51.  Finance and Financial Management Services**#40**
52.  Communication Disorders Sciences and Services**#42**
53.  Film/Video and Photographic Arts**#48**
54.  Marketing**#48**

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus depend heavily on the field a student chooses, and [Azimuth's program ranking](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)s are built to show that. The rankings evaluate four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation, covering 80 programs here with earnings data published for 88.

The degree mix is broad, with Engineering and Business nearly tied at 15.3% and 15.2% of bachelor's degrees awarded, and Computer & Information Sciences third at 11.8%. The largest single program is Finance, at 449 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #40 nationally with median earnings of $96,714 four years after completion.

The highest-earning program is Computer and Information Sciences, where graduates earn a median of $120,729 and Azimuth ranks the program #24 nationally. A smaller standout is Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, ranked #2 nationally with earnings of $104,205, or 1.49x the national field median.

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).