Penn State women graduating this month will soon have to face a pay gap that has led to women making 80 cents to a man's dollar one year after college, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), also found women will make 69 cents to a man's dollar 10 years after graduation.

However, Pennsylvania is ranked 11th for both highest average income of a woman with a college degree -- $47,057 -- and smallest pay gap between men and women, with women making 77 percent of what men make, according to the study.

The study, which analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education's Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study, used two groups of college graduates to collect its data -- one from 1999 to 2000 to supply the one-year post graduation income numbers, and one from 1992 to 1993 to supply the 10-year post graduation income numbers.

"By looking at earnings just one year out of college, you have as level a playing field as possible," said AAUW director of research Catherine Hill. "But surprisingly, and unfortunately, we find that women already earn less -- even when they have the same major and occupation as their male counterparts."

Pay discrepancies were also found between men and women with the same majors. In education, considered by the study to be a "female-dominated" major, women earn 95 cents to a man's dollar. Biological science, considered a "mixed-gender" major, and mathematics, a "male-dominated" major, give women 75 and 76 cents, respectively, to a man's dollar.

"The choice of major is not the full story. As early as one year after graduation, a pay gap is found between women and men who had the same college major," said Barbara O'Connor, president of the AAUW.

It now takes a woman 16 months to earn what a man makes in 12, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity.

Emily Marks (senior-mathematics) said since she takes the same classes as men, she should get the same pay.

"I think it's completely unfair," she said. "We go through the same process. I look at my debt, and how much I have to pay off, and seeing that my degree is worth less because I'm a girl is ridiculous."

In response to the pay gap issue, legislators such as Sen. Hillary Clinton participated in a Capitol Hill rally April 24, which is known as Equal Pay Day.

Hill said women need to educate themselves about possible perks before going to interviews.

"I would recommend that [young women] prepare themselves for the job search by learning about salaries and benefits -- both in the short and long term -- in the occupations the are considering," she said. "Young women are somewhat more likely than young men to choose a job outside of their field of study, and generally speaking, it is better to choose a job in your field."