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Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, PA 7,877 Undergrads 38.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$27,678
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,550
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,659
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$19,550
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$76,659
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate38.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients32.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time44.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
91.1%
SAT Avg
1,248
SAT Reading
25th: 560-75th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 530-75th: 655
ACT Composite
25th: 26-75th: 32
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$657k
+$197k
+$180k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$587k
+$127k
+$110k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$558k
+$98k
+$80k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
36
156%
Full Cost$28k/yr
40
81%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return242%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return13%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,499
Earnings (4yr)
$87,526
Nat: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$435k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,292
Nat: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
CertCIP: 5299
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,162
Nat: $79,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$383k
Business/Commerce, General
CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,445
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,874
Nat: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$581k
Finance and Financial Management Services
CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$25,965
Earnings
-
Nat: $53,418
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
CertCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,138
Nat: $55,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,652
Earnings (4yr)
$93,527
Nat: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$492k
Management Information Systems and Services
CertCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,794
Nat: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
CertCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
CertCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$17,273
Earnings (4yr)
$63,384
Nat: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
CertCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,264
Nat: $80,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$632k
Security Science and Technology
CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
AssocCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,464
Nat: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,701
Earnings (4yr)
$61,596
Nat: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$40,545
Nat: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
AssocCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,394
Nat: $56,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,654
Nat: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,218
Earnings (4yr)
$88,192
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,471
Nat: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
BachCIP: 0106
Median Debt
$25,784
Earnings (4yr)
$69,540
Nat: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
$25,601
Earnings (4yr)
$81,617
Nat: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$25,887
Earnings (4yr)
$69,102
Nat: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,717
Earnings (4yr)
$64,910
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,973
Earnings (4yr)
$72,218
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,593
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Nat: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,505
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$25,431
Earnings (4yr)
$66,866
Nat: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$26,471
Earnings (4yr)
$112,269
Nat: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,637
Nat: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Nat: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,228
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
BachCIP: 1306
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings
-
Nat: $47,700
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,299
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,714
Nat: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,036
Nat: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$25,648
Earnings (4yr)
$81,092
Nat: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,396
Nat: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,871
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,943
Nat: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,755
Nat: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,950
Earnings (4yr)
$91,671
Nat: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (4yr)
$71,001
Nat: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,367
Earnings (4yr)
$62,336
Nat: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,195
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,947
Earnings (4yr)
$79,343
Nat: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,723
Earnings (4yr)
$87,997
Nat: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$31,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,745
Nat: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,741
Nat: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$65,675
Nat: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,918
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,246
Nat: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,876
Nat: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$91,032
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$48,348
Nat: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Science, Technology and Society
BachCIP: 3015
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$25,438
Earnings (4yr)
$59,883
Nat: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Sustainability Studies
BachCIP: 3033
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings
-
Nat: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$24,225
Earnings (4yr)
$45,170
Nat: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,498
Nat: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$496k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$127,665
Nat: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$642k
Community Organization and Advocacy
MastCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$48,937
Earnings (4yr)
$84,981
Nat: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Computational Science
MastCIP: 3030
Median Debt
$27,600
Earnings (4yr)
$137,367
Nat: $138,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$724k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$166,387
Nat: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$970k
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$140,393
Nat: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
+$750k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$23,151
Earnings (4yr)
$62,403
Nat: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Demography
MastCIP: 4505
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $75,145
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$29,612
Earnings (4yr)
$63,797
Nat: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,278
Nat: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$468k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,798
Nat: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$430k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$44,873
Earnings (4yr)
$111,065
Nat: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$501k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$32,931
Earnings (4yr)
$106,535
Nat: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,541
Nat: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$33,905
Earnings (4yr)
$158,815
Nat: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$906k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$139,676
Nat: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$744k
Manufacturing Engineering
MastCIP: 1436
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $122,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$81,997
Nat: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
MastCIP: 0399
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nuclear Engineering
MastCIP: 1423
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$89,155
Nat: $117,400
Lifetime Value Added
+$360k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$150,865
Nat: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$839k
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,841
Nat: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
+$405k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,710
Nat: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$36,778
Earnings (4yr)
$90,383
Nat: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$117,728
Nat: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$558k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,107
Earnings (4yr)
$63,109
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,392
Nat: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$657k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
$32,822
Earnings (4yr)
$145,507
Nat: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$793k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,663
Nat: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Graduate Certificates
Information Science/Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $74,146
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.