East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania · Public · 92.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) posts an ROI score of 51, placing it in the Below Average Value tier. ESU is a regional public in the Pocono Mountains serving 4,814 students. In-state tuition is $11,536 with out-of-state at $19,502; net price is $18,134 producing a $72,536 four-year all-in cost. Six-year median earnings are $35,300, climbing strongly to $56,148 by year ten - a healthy 59% earnings ramp suggesting graduates take time to find higher-earning roles. The 10-year payback period is moderate. The strongest sub-score is earnings premium (65) reflecting the long-run earnings recovery; the weakest is completion rate (26) at just 43.1% - meaning more than half of entering students don't finish. Median debt of $24,218 produces a 0.686 debt-to-earnings ratio, manageable but reflective of how thin early-career earnings are. The 77.1% three-year repayment rate is a relative bright spot, indicating completers do make progress on loans. ESU is a comprehensive regional public with strong nursing, computer science, and education programs balanced by weaker outcomes in arts, communications, and social sciences. The completion rate is the dominant risk factor.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,536/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,502/yr |
| Average net price | $18,134/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,536 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,148 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,218 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 10 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,814 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,536/year ($19,502/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,134/year, or roughly $72,536 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,365/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,892/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $24,218 in federal loans, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,148 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.69, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $15,365 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,511 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,382 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,135 |
| $110,001+ | $22,892 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 face a net price of $15,365. The four-year cost of about $61,000 against $35,300 six-year earnings is workable for completers, especially in nursing, CS, or IT. With Pell rate above 41%, ESU enrolls many students from this bracket; the institution's affordability advantage is meaningful but contingent on graduation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $14,511 - the lowest tier, an unusual aid pattern where the second-lowest income tier is most subsidized. The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,382. PA middle-income families benefit from PHEAA grants stacking with federal Pell here. Comparison against community-college transfer paths for the first two years remains the most cost-effective route for the budget-sensitive.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $21,135 and $110,001-plus pays $22,892 - approaching out-of-state sticker. Higher-income PA families lose much of the aid advantage; at this price point, comparison should be against Penn State branch campuses, Bloomsburg, IUP, and Kutztown on program fit. Out-of-state higher-income students rarely find ESU advantageous on price alone.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,237 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,287 | C |
| Psychology | $46,912 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,494 | D |
| Biology | $63,320 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $55,303 | C |
| Teacher Education | $49,724 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,559 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $60,391 | C+ |
| Communications Technologies | $39,273 | F |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is ESU's strongest ROI program with 25 graduates earning $80,020 in year one, climbing to $97,321 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.337 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ grade. The Pennsylvania-Pocono nursing market is healthy and absorbs ESU graduates into hospital systems with starting wages well above the regional median. This is the clearest example of the institution delivering on its value promise.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is ESU's largest program with 86 graduates - substantially more than nursing. First-year earnings of $31,622 climb to $55,237 by year four, but median debt of $26,303 produces a 0.832 ratio and D grade. The volume of kinesiology graduates relative to immediate post-grad jobs (PT/OT typically requires graduate study) makes this a high-volume but lower-ROI program. Students should plan for graduate study and weigh cumulative debt.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 78 students with $39,651 first-year earnings climbing to $58,287 by year four. Median debt of $26,000 produces a 0.656 ratio and C grade. Outcomes are middle-of-the-pack for regional public business programs; graduates entering Pennsylvania regional employers tend to advance steadily but not spectacularly. The four-year earnings ramp is meaningful.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 75 students with $28,982 first-year earnings, $46,912 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.932 ratio and D grade. Bachelor's-only psychology outcomes are constrained without graduate study, and at ESU's price the math is difficult. Students intending graduate school should be especially careful about cumulative borrowing.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 66 students with $35,206 first-year earnings climbing to $57,494 by year four. Median debt of $26,888 produces a 0.764 ratio and D grade. The strong four-year earnings ramp suggests advancement into supervisory and federal-track roles. The C/D border outcomes are typical for regional CJ programs; at in-state pricing, the math is workable for completers.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-23 |
| Enrollment | 4,814 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,957 |
ESU's admission rate is 92.1% - effectively open to applicants who meet basic requirements. SAT mid-ranges of 500-590 math and 500-590 reading, with ACT 22-23, indicate a typical student body with adequate but not strong academic preparation. The very narrow ACT range (22-23) is unusual and suggests a small reporting sample. The combination of high admit rate and 43% completion rate signals the institution admits many students who will struggle academically; ESU's challenge is execution on retention, not selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
ESU's peers in the data include Indiana University of Pennsylvania (the closest direct comparison - a larger PASSHE sister institution with similar mission), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (a much smaller HBCU with weaker completion), Washburn University in Kansas, University of Massachusetts Global, and Texas A&M-Kingsville. Within the PASSHE system, ESU's score of 51 is in the middle of the pack - IUP and Bloomsburg typically post slightly higher scores driven by stronger nursing and education outcomes. Cheyney sits well below ESU on the same metrics. The peer set confirms ESU's profile as a mid-tier regional public.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (this school) | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 52 | $12,090 | $51,450 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 44 | $16,804 | $51,019 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
ESU enrolls 4,814 students with a Pell Grant rate of 41.5% - a relatively high-need student body for a state regional comprehensive. The fit case here is a Pennsylvania resident accessing in-state tuition, focused on Nursing, CS, IT, or Education (programs with strong outcomes), and prepared to leverage academic support to beat the institutional 43% completion rate. The Pocono setting offers a residential campus experience at a moderate cost. Students drawn to communications, arts, or theatre should weigh the F-grade outcomes in those programs against alternatives carefully.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $18,134 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,148 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 43.1% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $24,218 against $56,148 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania: Common Questions
Is East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,134 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,148 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools.
How much does East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $18,134 a year, or roughly $72,536 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,148 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,348 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10 years for East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $24,218, against $56,148 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.1%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.