Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Security Science and Technology bachelor's degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public · Federal field 4304

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$8,279 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
40.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$7,710 / year
10-year scenario
−32% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
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.

What stays fixed$66,084 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+34%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$49,782$66,934
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
26Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
Not availableBorrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

183Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
43Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
74Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
146Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$66,084$30,810 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 37 Parent PLUS borrowers.

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.

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$66,084

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.

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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.

$49,782Year 1
$66,084Year 4
$66,934Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.2% 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$5,507
Estimated loan payment$286
Not availableborrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$66,084 vs. $57,805

$8,279 above 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.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary$94,710 median wagePA estimate · 790 jobs · 25-1111+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeDetectives and Criminal Investigators$97,580 median wagePA estimate · 3,370 jobs · 33-3021+0.2% projected U.S. growth · 7.8k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$102,400 median wagePA estimate · 5,690 jobs · 33-1012+3.3% projected U.S. growth · 10.6k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$63,150 median wagePA estimate · 980 jobs · 33-1099+1.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentForensic Science Technicians$61,580 median wagePA estimate · 360 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$57,680 median wagePA estimate · 2,630 jobs · 19-4099+4.4% projected U.S. growth · 11.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreePrivate Detectives and Investigators$51,200 median wagePA estimate · 1,220 jobs · 33-9021+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFirst-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$47,510 median wagePA estimate · 3,160 jobs · 33-1091+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.8k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSpecial ForcesNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 55-3018Special Forces OfficersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 55-1017Managers, All Other$131,600 median wagePA estimate · 20,170 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeInformation Security Analysts$117,770 median wagePA estimate · 4,660 jobs · 15-1212+21.0% projected U.S. growth · 14.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Bloomsburg, PA

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

$7,205 higher earnings · $1,200 less debt · $17,176 lower annual net price

Earnings
$73,289
Debt
$25,800
Annual net price
$15,699
View outcomes →
Moon Township, PA

Robert Morris University

$24,122 higher earnings · $9,872 lower annual net price

Earnings
$90,206
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$23,003
View outcomes →
Philadelphia, PA

Chestnut Hill College

$4,905 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,744
Debt
$35,000
Annual net price
$27,970
View outcomes →
Erie, PA

Mercyhurst University

$13,431 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,665
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$19,444
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

26 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →