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University Park, PA · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at Penn State

Penn State graduates about 83 physics & astronomy majors a year. That puts it 70th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a standout program at 81 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $77,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $72 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

81/100Standout#70 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year83under 1% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$77,0001.04× the same major nationally
Research in the field$72Ma year, NSF
Admit rate61%whole school
SAT middle 50%1210–1390whole school

Around Penn State

The Nursing Sciences building at the University Park campus of Penn State Univer
Nursing Sciences Building at Penn StatePhoto: JohnDziak · CC0 · source
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

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Verne M Willaman Gateway to the Sciences, Animal, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Building Construction, Radiation Science Engineering Center Storage Building, Millennium Science Complex, Erickson Food Science Building, Huck Life Sciences Building, Agricultural Science and Industries Building, Applied Science Building, Nursing Sciences Building, Earth and Engineering Sciences 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 physics & astronomy ranking

  1. Michigan State University 82
  2. University of California San Diego 82
  3. Macalester College 82
  4. University of California, Irvine 81
  5. St. Olaf College 81
  6. Kenyon College 81
  7. University of Iowa 80
  8. University of Colorado Boulder 79

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 physics & astronomy. 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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