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 average earnings are $35,300, climbing strongly to a median $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 |
| Average 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), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,218, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,300) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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. 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. 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.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.4% | 72.8% |
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 score is 51.
| 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%. 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.
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. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. 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, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $24,218 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
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. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,134 a year, or roughly $72,536 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. 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. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,218, against average earnings of $35,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). 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.