Central Penn College
Summerdale, Pennsylvania · Private For-Profit · 18.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Central Penn College earns a Poor Value tier with an overall ROI score of 28 out of 100, with weak sub-scores across the board. As a small for-profit Pennsylvania college, Central Penn primarily serves working adults pursuing career-focused credentials -- but the financial outcomes are difficult. Tuition is $19,854 per year and the average net price is $18,953, with the four-year total cost reaching $75,812. Median 10-year earnings are $45,370, just a 13.7% premium over high school graduates. The payback period stretches to 20.8 years and median debt is $23,194 (this is the institutional median, but individual program data shows median debt over $40,000 for most majors -- the institutional figure may understate). The 56.7% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 14) is the most concerning signal, indicating many borrowers are not making meaningful progress on their loans. The 50.9% completion rate is mediocre. Central Penn focuses on Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, and Healthcare Administration -- but program-level debt data shows much heavier loan loads than the institutional median, suggesting students who complete take on substantially more debt than the average enrollee.
The data raises concerns about Central Penn College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Central Penn College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,854/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,854/yr |
| Average net price | $18,953/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,812 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,370 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,194 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 662 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Central Penn College is $19,854/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,953/year, or roughly $75,812 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $15,859/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,656/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,194 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $246 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,370 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.68 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,859 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,164 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,011 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,973 |
| $110,001+ | $23,656 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price brackets show some non-monotonicity. Families earning under $30,000 pay $15,859, while $30,001-$48,000 jumps to $19,164 -- and $48,001-$75,000 drops back to $17,011. This irregularity likely reflects the school's small enrollment producing unstable per-bracket averages. Low-income families face roughly $63,000 over four years on the institutional net price -- but actual program debt suggests final loan balances are significantly higher.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $17,011 per year, while $75,001-$110,000 pays $18,973. Over four years that's $68,000-$76,000 on net price. Middle-income Pennsylvania families would do dramatically better at HACC (community college transfer) or the Pennsylvania State System universities for the same career-program outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning above $110,000 pay $23,656 per year (the highest bracket), or roughly $95,000 over four years. At this price point and with the school's weak earnings outcomes, Central Penn makes essentially no financial sense for higher-income families.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Central Penn College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,007 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,203 | F |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | $47,979 | - |
| Accounting | $60,077 | D |
| Computer Science | $71,198 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $54,467 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is Central Penn's largest program with 61 graduates per year. Median first-year earnings of $49,497 and four-year earnings of $66,007 are reasonable, but median program debt of $44,341 produces a 0.896 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The heavy debt is the central problem -- earnings would warrant a C+ at lower debt levels but the borrowing required to complete drags the program into D territory. Same credential is available at HACC + transfer for less than half the debt.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 21 students per year with an F ROI grade. Median earnings of $40,145 first year against an extraordinary $47,319 of debt produce a 1.179 debt-to-earnings ratio. Pennsylvania police, corrections, and probation work simply does not pay enough to justify this debt load; the same career path is available through community college plus academy training at a small fraction of the cost.
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Legal Professions graduates 13 students per year with median first-year earnings of $40,226 and four-year earnings of $47,979. Debt data is not reported, which limits ROI analysis. Paralegal and legal assistant credentials lead to modest-paying roles; the value depends heavily on what debt students take on, and given the institutional pattern of $40,000+ debt, this is likely also a difficult financial path.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 12 students per year. Median first-year earnings of $52,185 and four-year earnings of $60,077 are decent for accounting, but median program debt of $48,383 produces a 0.927 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Earnings warrant a B-level credential in cheaper environments; at Central Penn's program-debt level the math collapses.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 11 students per year with median first-year earnings of $49,718 and four-year earnings of $71,198 -- the strongest career trajectory on the profile. But median program debt of $42,163 produces a 0.848 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The same field at Penn State or any Pennsylvania State System university produces dramatically better financial outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 48.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 18.5% |
| Enrollment | 662 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 49.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,380 |
Central Penn admits 18.5% of applicants -- an unusually low figure for a for-profit institution, which may reflect either a quirk in Scorecard data reporting or a genuine selectivity in the school's enrollment process. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with for-profits that admit primarily on rolling/career-program criteria. The 50.9% completion rate combined with the heavy program-level debt suggests Central Penn enrolls working adults who may struggle to balance program costs with employment and family obligations.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Central Penn's named peers are entirely other for-profit institutions: Brookline College-Albuquerque, Provo College, Strayer University-Florida, Crestpoint University, and Miami Regional University. ROI scores across this peer cluster tend to range from low to mid-30s; Central Penn's 28 sits in the lower-middle of this peer band. Among Pennsylvania options for working adults, the state's many community colleges and the Penn State World Campus offer dramatically better cost math.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Penn College (this school) | 28 | $18,953 | $45,370 |
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | 24 | $37,459 | $29,576 |
| Strayer University-Florida | 24 | $16,064 | $40,092 |
| Miami Regional University | 23 | $22,113 | $29,081 |
| Crestpoint University | 23 | $15,670 | $42,269 |
| Provo College | 14 | $27,053 | $39,645 |
Who Thrives Here
Central Penn fits Pennsylvania-area working adults who need career-focused credentialing in business, IT, criminal justice, or healthcare administration -- and who cannot easily access the state's community college system or Penn State World Campus. Enrollment is 662 with a 49% Pell rate, signaling a heavily working-class adult-learner population. The single strongest reason to attend is convenient program scheduling for working adults; on financial grounds, Harrisburg Area Community College, HACC, or the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's online programs offer materially better value. Students should run program-level debt numbers (which run $40,000-$48,000) against earnings before committing.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Central Penn College. With a net cost of $18,953 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,370 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 50.9% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,194 against $45,370 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.