Physics at Pennsylvania State University (The)
PA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 40.08
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Physics degree from Pennsylvania State University (The) earn a median salary of $74,560 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in PA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $76,004. The degree typically pays for itself in 5.7 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$46,497
Typical Career
$74,560
Top Performers
$111,589
Estimated break-even: 5.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$497
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,213. Most students can comfortably afford about a $497 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Pennsylvania buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$76,004
Nominal: $74,560 in Pennsylvania (COL 98.1% of national avg) · 1.9% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $31,905 | $52,527 | $79,787 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $46,497 | $74,560 | $111,589 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $80,258 | $116,620 | $159,361 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $74,560 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in PA, which has a cost-of-living index of 98.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $74,560 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9810)
= $76,004 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for Physics graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (21.9%), Health Care & Social Assistance (12.7%), and Educational Services (12.1%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 5.7 years compared to a high-school-only path, pursuing a Physics degree at Penn State presents a favorable return on investment. The diverse career options and solid earning potential suggest that this degree can lead to rewarding professional opportunities in various sectors.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Physics degree at Pennsylvania State University (The) stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.