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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

⌖ Middletown, PA · 47 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$6,320 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

9.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+2%Modeled 10-year ROI
$72,964Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$6,320at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$273,3200
2
4
6
8
+$6,32010
Years after graduationBreak-even: 9.8 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$15,972
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$26,958
Sticker price
Average net price$23,330
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$32,521
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$23,330Average net price / year
$32,521Cost of attendance
$72,964Median earnings · year 5 after completion
26.1%Completion rate
97.6%Admission rate
4,031Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

92thEarnings percentile
8thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$54,468Year 1
$76,659Year 4
$72,964Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Master's Degree$166,3872Information Science/Studies · Master's Degree$158,8153Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods · Master's Degree$139,6764Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$120,7295Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$112,2696Health and Medical Administrative Services · Master's Degree$111,0657Homeland Security · Master's Degree$106,5358Human Resources Management and Services · Master's Degree$103,541

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in PA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Media, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine

Annual net price
$22,585
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+3%
Open college profile →Reading, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Annual net price
$24,356
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+1%
Open college profile →Altoona, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Annual net price
$22,213
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+4%
Open college profile →Erie, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Annual net price
$24,558
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+1%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralMaster's Degree$166,387Not available
Information Science/StudiesMaster's Degree$158,815Not available
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's Degree$139,676Not available
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$120,729$26,000
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$112,269$26,708
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree$111,065Not available
Homeland SecurityMaster's Degree$106,535Not available
Human Resources Management and ServicesMaster's Degree$103,541Not available
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$102,874$27,000
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementBachelor's Degree$98,637$26,917
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$96,714$25,375
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$93,277$27,000
Information Science/StudiesBachelor's Degree$91,671$26,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$91,032$27,000
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$88,192$26,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,997$27,000
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$87,710Not available
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$82,162$24,950
Management Information Systems and ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$81,794$27,000
Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree$81,755$27,000
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, OtherBachelor's Degree$81,617$26,000
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$81,403$26,838
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$81,228$25,000
MarketingBachelor's Degree$79,343$25,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$76,246$24,693
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$75,396$26,000
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBachelor's Degree$73,308$26,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$72,218$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$69,663Not available
Biological and Physical SciencesBachelor's Degree$69,102$26,000
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$68,918$26,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$67,399$27,000
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$64,910$26,000
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$62,403Not available
Business/Commerce, GeneralAssociate's Degree$61,596$19,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$58,195$27,750
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$56,877$26,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$56,114Not available
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$55,505$25,875
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's Degree$54,654$20,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$53,362$26,263
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$52,131$26,000
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,299$26,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,543$27,000
SociologyBachelor's Degree$49,197$26,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$45,943$28,000
Area StudiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$27,000

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.