Pennsylvania State University
Salary Score
Bachelor's
64
Master's
71
Doctoral
58
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FAQsPennsylvania State University (PSU, also known as Penn State) in University Park is a public institution serving almost 89,000 students, including distance learners, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Penn State offers 108 online degree programs, including 7 online associate degrees, 41 online bachelor's degrees, 56 online master's degrees, and 4 online doctoral degrees. There are also 81 online certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels available. Disciplines are diverse, ranging from business and education to nursing and engineering.
Rankings by Salary Score and Affordability
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#1
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Psychology
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#2
2023 Best Online Bachelor's in Finance Degrees
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#3
2023 Best Online IT Degrees
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#5
2023 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
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#5
2023 Best Online Political Science Degrees
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#5
2023 Best Online Marketing Degrees
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#6
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Finance
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#7
2023 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
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#8
2023 Best Online Human Resources Degrees
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#9
2023 Best Online Human Resources Master's Degrees
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#11
2023 Best Online Healthcare Administration Programs
Salary Score for Online Degrees at Pennsylvania State University
Associate's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General | $17,725 | $40,242 | 93 |
Information Science/Studies | $21,000 | $41,003 | 91 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $16,852 | $31,892 | 90 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $19,875 | $24,148 | 71 |
Bachelor's Degrees
Natural Resources Management and Policy | $39,750 | $62,018 | 100 |
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $26,250 | $59,349 | 96 |
Marketing | $25,000 | $51,414 | 94 |
Finance and Financial Management Services | $25,000 | $61,200 | 91 |
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $24,823 | $61,252 | 91 |
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26,746 | $65,214 | 87 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24,947 | $49,437 | 81 |
Information Science/Studies | $26,000 | $60,548 | 80 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $22,500 | $33,729 | 77 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services | $25,000 | $45,122 | 76 |
Human Resources Management and Services | $27,000 | $48,779 | 75 |
Agricultural Business and Management | $26,000 | $47,444 | 74 |
Forestry | $23,235 | $41,479 | 74 |
Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $27,000 | $66,366 | 72 |
Agricultural Engineering | $27,000 | $60,836 | 71 |
Political Science and Government | $26,000 | $37,482 | 69 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $26,947 | $34,969 | 69 |
Computer Engineering | $27,000 | $76,448 | 68 |
International Relations and National Security Studies | $24,500 | $39,513 | 67 |
Accounting and Related Services | $25,125 | $51,228 | 67 |
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $27,000 | $38,061 | 66 |
Mining and Mineral Engineering | $29,375 | $71,938 | 64 |
Journalism | $25,000 | $33,090 | 64 |
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $27,000 | $28,554 | 61 |
Biology, General | $26,991 | $28,620 | 59 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $23,000 | $67,759 | 58 |
Psychology, General | $26,000 | $29,652 | 58 |
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $24,236 | $34,758 | 58 |
Biological and Physical Sciences | $26,000 | $33,036 | 57 |
Nuclear Engineering | $27,000 | $62,046 | 56 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Not Reported | $33,395 | 54 |
Petroleum Engineering | $27,000 | $80,718 | 51 |
Engineering, Other | $27,000 | $61,978 | 49 |
Communication and Media Studies | $26,000 | $32,077 | 47 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections | $26,000 | $34,135 | 47 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,767 | $29,005 | 46 |
Business/Commerce, General | $25,931 | $42,524 | 46 |
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $26,000 | $30,749 | 45 |
Economics | $24,974 | $45,928 | 43 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $25,625 | $30,110 | 42 |
History | $26,250 | $27,051 | 33 |
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $26,000 | $26,833 | 31 |
Research and Experimental Psychology | $27,000 | $27,946 | 26 |
Surveying Engineering | $27,000 | $52,230 | 24 |
Engineering, General | Not Reported | $55,455 | 19 |
Business/Corporate Communications | $25,000 | $35,169 | 14 |
Master's Degrees
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Not Reported | $81,629 | 100 |
Psychology, Other | $38,615 | $81,025 | 99 |
Geography and Cartography | Not Reported | $87,475 | 98 |
Information Science/Studies | $34,123 | $109,295 | 97 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $30,750 | $100,372 | 87 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,058 | $92,512 | 85 |
Statistics | $23,403 | $96,917 | 76 |
Accounting and Related Services | $20,500 | $63,873 | 75 |
Human Resources Management and Services | $38,975 | $72,738 | 75 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services | $51,250 | $72,509 | 62 |
Finance and Financial Management Services | $39,332 | $82,006 | 60 |
Public Administration | $41,000 | $56,081 | 57 |
Curriculum and Instruction | $26,760 | $49,813 | 53 |
Computer Engineering | $41,000 | $100,190 | 52 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $40,949 | $95,304 | 43 |
Systems Engineering | $34,975 | $96,574 | 37 |
Educational Administration and Supervision | $27,765 | $48,179 | 28 |
Special Education and Teaching | $30,750 | $45,891 | 26 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,750 | $39,000 | 21 |
FAQs About Pennsylvania State University
Is Pennsylvania State University Online?
Yes, Penn State is online, with over 175 degrees and certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NCES data shows that 13% of undergraduates and 42% of graduate students participate in online-only education at Penn State through its World Campus.
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard shows that Penn State has a higher-than-average 70% graduation and an 87% retention rate.
Examples of online bachelor's degrees include digital journalism and media, international politics, project and supply chain management, and security and risk analysis. Online master's degrees include artificial intelligence, corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, educational leadership, and geodesign, among many others.
Is Pennsylvania State University a Good School?
Yes, Penn State is a good school. It's made 11 of our rankings list, including #2 for Best Online Bachelor's in Finance Degrees, #3 for Best Online IT Degrees, and #5 for Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania and Best Online Political Science Degrees.
Along with its high graduation and retention rates, which speak to the school's ability to keep students motivated and engaged, its average median earnings for graduates are higher than average at approximately $61,200, which may indicate that students are well-trained and prepared for life after graduation.
Additionally, Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This accreditation status signifies that MSCHE finds Penn State's financial practices sound and its academic programming meets federal quality standards. Additionally, Penn State is programmatically accredited by 22 industry-specific agencies in addition to its institutional accreditation.
To provide the most trustworthy results, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site.
What Is Pennsylvania State University Known For?
Penn State has a history of delivering distance education for over 125 years. Its World Campus opened in 1998 and hosts more than 20,000 students representing diverse countries across the globe. Students are from places such as the U.S., Canada, China, South Korea, and India. Penn State has the second-largest alumni network in the world, with over 750,000 graduates.
Penn State is also known for its student services to distance learners, including access to services — such as academic advising; career counseling; library resources; tutorials; mental health services; disability services; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging resources.
Which Degrees at Pennsylvania State University Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?
According to College Scorecard, Penn State's bachelor's degrees in computer and information science, biomedical/medical engineering, and computer engineering provide the highest earnings. Graduates in these fields earn high median annual salaries of approximately $101,500, $97,100, and $95,500, accordingly.
Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. Penn State has a bachelor's salary score of 64, 71 for its master's degrees, and 58 for its doctoral degrees. Its bachelor's degree in natural resources management and policy has a perfect salary score of 100.
Is Getting Into Pennsylvania State University Difficult?
Getting into Penn State is easy. College Scorecard data shows it accepts 92% of applicants. While entrance exam scores are considered, they are not required, which can help level the playing field for some. However, accepted students who submit their scores have combined SAT scores between 1140 and 1360 and ACT scores between 25 and 31.
What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Pennsylvania State University?
According to its Penn State's website, there is no minimum GPA requirement. However, accepted Penn State students were admitted with GPAs between 3.12 and 3.93. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the GPA, the higher your chances of being accepted when applying to college.
What Are the Admission Requirements for Pennsylvania State University?
Although individual degree programs may have additional requirements, Penn State's admission requirements for first-year baccalaureate students generally include the following:
- An application
- A $65 application fee
- Official high school transcripts, GED scores, or homeschool program transcripts
- Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
- Official military transcripts, if applicable
Additionally, submitting SAT/ACT scores is optional.
If you're still exploring schools, we've identified some of the most popular online colleges to help with your search.
Bernadette E.
Reviewed: 2/12/2019
Degree: Psychology
I studied Psychology through Penn State's World Campus. The flexibility afforded by the online program cannot be overemphasized, but this does not mean that it was in any way "easy." In fact, having a history of traditional brick-and-mortar education, I can safely say that the online program was "no joke;" it was rigorous and thought-provoking, with no room for slacking off. There were multiple due dates each week, and weekly discussion posts that mandated references to assigned activities. The discussion... Read More
Veteran Penn Stater
Reviewed: 5/3/2017
Degree: Psychology
Admissions was attentive and professional. Accessing financial aid, billing, grades, online library, etc., all made simple through one-access point! The online platform, Canvas, very easy to navigate and I recall very few technical outages during my entire 18 months in a master degree program. Program advisor was supportive and responded to calls and emails in a timely manner, easily provided me with the answers I needed. Instructors were professional, challenging, and fair. The course design, lectures,... Read More
Kristen Brown
Reviewed: 4/14/2017
Degree: Psychology
I want to state that I received my bachelors degree at Penn State University World Campus (PSUWC), and pursued my masters, but ended up transferring out to another university to finish my masters. I am a 4.0 student, with a high IQ, high EQ, and am a diligent student; no slacker. I am an insightful person who needs little direction. With that being said, if you attend PSUWC, especially as a grad student, be prepared to do EVERYTHING alone. You will likely not have an advisor (one will be assigned,... Read More
Lauren
Reviewed: 2/1/2017
Degree: Psychology
When it was time to complete my Bachelor's degree, I looked into Penn State's World Campus programs in Psychology. I was originally concerned I would miss out on things being a distance learner, but I felt so connected to the school community through World Campus! I was able to network with my professors and classmates. I believe I got a great education through Penn State!
Michael A. Humphries
Reviewed: 9/27/2016
Degree: Nursing
I attended the online Penn State World Campus to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). Although I was a registered nurse, the program prepared and reiterated that I was not just a registered nurse but a professional healthcare worker. Every paper written and all communication had to exemplify diction of a professional. While taking classes and working full time, I was able to use what I've been learning to become a more professional nurse. I became a better advocate for my patients.... Read More
HKT
Reviewed: 6/5/2016
Degree: Psychology
Penn State is an excellent university. I was able to maintain my military life style and continue my education. Professors are rigorous yet extremely engaging and willing to help. This is definitely not a university for those seeking an easy degree. There are plenty of opportunities to interact with the faculty and other students. I was able to work in two different research labs and improved tremendously my skills and network. If you are willing to put in the work this is definitely an university... Read More
Keith C
Reviewed: 9/12/2014
Degree: Information Technology
Let's face it if you're looking for an online education program you already know the degree plans available are limited. Still I knew the need for a quality education in this day and age it of up most importance. Being active duty I needed something that I could activley pursue from around the world. I constantly hear guys I work with recommending a wide variety of schools because either they are cheap, easy, or accepted a bunch of their bullshit credits. With Penn State you are receiving an education... Read More
Steven
Reviewed: 9/8/2014
Degree: Art & Design
Here is the quick and dirty review for Instructional Design. If you would like to pay top dollar for a curriculum that is over 10 years old Penn State is fine. If you are a teachers who would like to learn a little more about technology to use in the classroom the degree is fine as well. However if you are like me and work for Fortune 100 companies they are antiquated. I left the Master's Program and went somewhere else. Some of the people in the department were pioneers in distance learning, but... Read More
Beth Lampinski
Reviewed: 8/5/2014
Degree: Criminal Justice
Penn State world campus offers a very educational Criminal Justice program. For the majority of the program I had very knowledgable professors who taught me a great deal. I know they were continuing to add more versatility to their program as well. I specifically enjoyed my last two years, where the focus of my courses were strictly CJ related. I would recommend PSU world campus for those who have families or cannot attend regular courses. Many of my classmates were in the armed forces, police officers,... Read More