Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Public · offers Graduate degrees
61%Acceptance rate
$32,875Average net price / year
86%Graduation rate
$63,435Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$25,000Median debt at graduation
42,284Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $20,644
- Out-of-state tuition
- $41,790
- Total cost of attendance
- $39,694
- Room & board
- $14,474
- Books & supplies
- $1,200
- Average net price
- $32,875
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $19,845
- $30–48k
- $20,049
- $48–75k
- $25,667
- $75–110k
- $31,834
- $110k+
- $37,831
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 60.6%
- Average SAT
- 1337
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 620–700
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 620–720
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 27–32
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 86%
- First-year retention
- 93%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $55,620
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $63,435
- Median debt (graduates)
- $25,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 14%
- Students with federal loans
- 40%
Programs: what graduates earn
196 of 489 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 172 | $75,635 | $26,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 15 | $74,308 | $12,652 |
| Real Estate | 103 | $70,544 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 0 | $67,492 | $26,499 |
| Engineering, General | 0 | $62,026 | $27,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 3 | $58,382 | $26,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 229 | $56,412 | $24,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | — | $54,669 | $17,273 |
| Journalism | 62 | $36,530 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3 | $108,264 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | $79,292 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | $25,965 |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | $61,945 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $58,317 | $12,625 |
| Information Science/Studies | — | $51,734 | $21,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | — | $49,172 | $16,500 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | $46,115 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | — | $44,626 | $17,701 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 4 | $40,658 | $16,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | $35,848 | $14,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | — | $32,719 | $22,250 |
| Forestry | — | $42,466 | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | — | $37,069 | — |
Bachelor's degree
Post-baccalaureate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | — | $129,079 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $119,762 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | $100,737 | — |
| Statistics | — | $98,980 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | — | $95,844 | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | $75,028 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | $74,833 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | $71,293 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | $140,589 | — |
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | — | $83,722 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 13 | $68,496 | — |
| Chemistry | 29 | $57,242 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 17 | $75,616 | — |
First professional degree
Graduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | — | $62,234 | $46,506 |
| Geography and Cartography | 3 | $59,063 | $20,500 |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 42,284
- Graduate students
- 8,818
- Part-time
- 2%
- Women / men
- 47% / 53%
- White
- 63%
- Hispanic
- 9%
- Black
- 5%
- Asian
- 8%
- International
- 9%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 16:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $118,080 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 86%
- Accreditor
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Website
- psu.edu
- Also known as
- Penn State
Most popular fields
- Agriculture – 3% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 7% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 11% of degrees
- Education – 4% of degrees
- Engineering – 14% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
60.6% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1337 on the SAT.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?
The average net price after grants is $32,875 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $20,644 and the full cost of attendance is $39,694.
How much do Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $63,435 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
86% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in University Park
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA · Public · 7,877 students |
$19,550 | 91% | 34% | $63,435 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.