How much do Polymer/Plastics Engineering bachelor's degree graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus earn?

The reported median is $87,636 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $27,000.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 6% below the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Polymer/Plastics Engineering bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to similar programs.

$5,283 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 30.8% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $61,590 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +37% · Positive payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$246,360

$18,000Annual price+$174,360

$33,000Current college-wide context+$114,360

$36,000Annual price+$102,360

$54,000Annual price+$30,360

$72,000Annual price−$41,640

$90,000Annual price−$113,640

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+49%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$68,438 → $102,241

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

35Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

49Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

47Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

30Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

34Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$87,636$52,362 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,875

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$87,636

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,875Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE86.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$68,438Year 1

$87,636Year 4

$102,241Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.9% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$7,303

Estimated loan payment$286

49borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$87,636 vs. $92,919

$5,283 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Architectural and Engineering Managers$164,690 median wagePA estimate · 9,640 jobs · 11-9041$133,960–$187,270 middle 50% of PA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemical Engineers$116,970 median wagePA estimate · 810 jobs · 17-2041$91,520–$168,060 middle 50% of PA wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMaterials Engineers$98,030 median wagePA estimate · 720 jobs · 17-2131$76,760–$128,360 middle 50% of PA wages+7.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$82,070 median wagePA estimate · 2,990 jobs · 25-1032$41,620–$119,090 middle 50% of PA wages+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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