Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus at a Glance
Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University, a public university in Pennsylvania. Launched in 1998, World Campus grew out of the university's history in distance education that began in 1892. It offers more than 200 online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in partnership with Penn State academic units. World Campus offices and a major part of its technical infrastructure are located at Innovation Park on the University Park Campus.
1998
28 years old
13,883
8,210 undergrad · 5,673 grad
Is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus Worth It?
At a value score of 27/100, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $63,435 — 18% above average — while paying $19,550/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 34% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pennsylvania State University-World Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #57 of 64 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #4 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #5 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 100 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| #6 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 100 | $10,163 | $78,466 |
| #57 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | 27 | $19,550 | $63,435 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pennsylvania State University-World Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in PA.
Best Programs at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
The highest-earning program at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $67,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at $24,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Pennsylvania State University-World Campus earns $67,800, while a Communication Disorders Sciences and Services graduate earns $24,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $21,500 in median debt vs. $26,000 for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,550/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $67,800 | $67,800 | $21,500 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $65,000 | $65,000 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,000 | $63,000 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $61,800 | $61,800 | $25,000 |
| Information Science/Studies | $59,700 | $59,700 | $26,726 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $56,200 | $56,200 | $27,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $49,000 | $49,000 | $27,000 |
| Marketing | $48,900 | $48,900 | $26,000 |
| Economics | $47,800 | $47,800 | $25,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $45,000 | $45,000 | $26,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $43,500 | $43,500 | $26,000 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $43,400 | $43,400 | $27,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $41,700 | $41,700 | $24,438 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $40,600 | $40,600 | $34,963 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $38,700 | $38,700 | $25,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,500 | $37,500 | $27,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $37,000 | $37,000 | $24,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,900 | $36,900 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,700 | $33,700 | $27,000 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $33,500 | $33,500 | $25,468 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,900 | $32,900 | $27,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,300 | $32,300 | $25,312 |
| Journalism | $32,100 | $32,100 | $26,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $30,600 | $30,600 | $26,596 |
| Psychology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $27,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,600 | $28,600 | $27,283 |
| History | $27,900 | $27,900 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $27,200 | $27,200 | $26,516 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $26,125 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $24,500 | $24,500 | $26,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- University Park, PA
- Student Body
- 7,877 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,550
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000