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University Park, PA · Economics

Economics at Penn State

Penn State graduates about 356 economics majors a year, 4% of its graduating class. That puts it 111th of 683 schools we score for economics, a strong program at 77 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 76 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 95% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $81,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $21 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

Graduates a year3564% of the class
Courses in the catalog76more than 95% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$81,0000.98× the same major nationally
Research in the field$21Ma year, NSF
Admit rate61%whole school
SAT middle 50%1210–1390whole school

Around Penn State

University Park, PA, USA
University Park, PA, USA - panoramio (8)Photo: thomasrive · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The Thomas Building at Penn State University Park. It contains classrooms, the s
Thomas Building Penn State University ParkPhoto: JohnDziak · CC0 · source
Hetzel Union Building-Robeson Center at Penn State University
HUB Robeson Center, west side entrancePhoto: JohnDziak · CC0 · source
A view of part of the Penn State University's University Park campus, seen from
Penn State HUB Lawn and Mt Nittany Seen From HUBPhoto: JohnDziak · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where economics happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Hostetter Business Services, Business Building.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 279 · Dorm 62 · Student housing 45 · Athletics 13 · Arts 13 · Dining 8.

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Nearby in the economics ranking

  1. Macalester College 78
  2. Mount Holyoke College 78
  3. Pitzer College 78
  4. University of Massachusetts–Amherst 77
  5. Fordham University 77
  6. Hillsdale College 77
  7. Whitman College 77
  8. Reed College 77

Other strong majors at Penn State

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Penn State with every school we score in economics. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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