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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus says yes to 60.6% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $63,435 median earnings.
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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus sits in University Park proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $120,729 four years out. 13.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1220 and 1400 — above the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus received 85,956 applications and admitted 46,605 (54.2%), with 9,040 enrolling.
You can apply to Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1220 and 1400; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 610 | 650 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 660 | 710 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 29 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus compares
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 60.6% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $20,644 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $63,435 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: $63,435 median at year ten, versus $62,101 across Pennsylvania institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $20,644 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $41,790. For non-residents, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's $41,790 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a big school: 42,284 undergraduates at last count.
86.1% of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus students finish a bachelor's within six years — 31.2 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $20,644 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $120,729 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $113,669 |
| Computer Engineering | $112,269 |
| Industrial Engineering | $104,758 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $104,205 |
| Chemical Engineering | $103,728 |
| Engineering, Other | $102,134 |
| Computer Science | $101,854 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $100,416 |
| Engineering Science | $100,176 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $99,159 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $98,637 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $96,714 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $95,935 |
| Architectural Engineering | $94,483 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $94,365 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $93,277 |
| Materials Sciences | $92,864 |
| Information Science/Studies | $91,671 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $91,411 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,032 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $88,192 |
| Engineering, General | $88,063 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,997 |
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $87,636 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $87,564 |
| Statistics | $86,636 |
| Food Science and Technology | $83,112 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $81,835 |
| Physics | $81,763 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $81,755 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $81,617 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,403 |
| Economics | $81,228 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $81,092 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $80,855 |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | $80,105 |
| Marketing | $79,343 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $79,342 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $78,476 |
| Mathematics | $77,336 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $77,336 |
| Surveying Engineering | $77,094 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $76,246 |
| Architecture | $76,181 |
| Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians | $75,919 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $75,396 |
| Landscape Architecture | $74,363 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $73,471 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,218 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $72,063 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $71,001 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $69,540 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $69,102 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $69,083 |
| Geography and Cartography | $68,993 |
| Political Science and Government | $68,918 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $67,399 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $66,876 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $66,866 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | $66,759 |
| Security Science and Technology | $66,084 |
| Philosophy | $65,675 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $65,292 |
| Chemistry | $65,230 |
| Biology, General | $64,910 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $63,798 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $63,010 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $62,831 |
| Journalism | $62,336 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $62,072 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $60,745 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $60,193 |
| Social Sciences, General | $59,883 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,195 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $58,105 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $55,741 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,505 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $54,488 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $53,362 |
| Agriculture, General | $52,932 |
| History | $52,871 |
| Plant Sciences | $52,329 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $52,131 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,635 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $50,866 |
| Anthropology | $50,640 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,299 |
| Animal Sciences | $49,772 |
| Psychology, General | $49,543 |
| Sociology | $49,197 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $48,348 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $47,620 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,943 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $45,833 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $45,170 |
| Education, General | $44,984 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,913 |
| Music | $44,241 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $43,919 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,036 |
Median earnings for these 104 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $63,435 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 37 additional Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1220–1400 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 60.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?
54.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 46,605 admitted from 85,956 applicants.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?
In-state tuition is $20,644; out-of-state students pay $41,790. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $63,435 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing — 82% admitted
- Neumann University — 81.3% admitted
- Muhlenberg College — 72% admitted
- Mount Aloysius College — 82% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.