Gannon University
Erie, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 74.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Gannon University scores 60 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The payback period is 9.7 years, the completion rate is 66.4%, average 6-year earnings are $43,800, and net price is $22,553. The strongest program is Health Professions Residency Programs (132 graduates, $93,419 year-four, B+ grade) - likely physician assistant or similar clinical health programs. Mechanical Engineering earns a B grade (23 graduates, $65,796 year-one, $82,856 year-four). Registered Nursing (51 graduates, C+ grade, $80,846 four-year) and Biology (47 graduates, B grade) also produce above-median outcomes. Criminal Justice earns a C grade (24 graduates). The institution's Erie, Pennsylvania location is a mid-sized rust-belt city with a healthcare and manufacturing employment base. Median 10-year earnings of $58,845 show adequate long-run appreciation. The 79.3% repayment rate at year three is acceptable, suggesting borrowers are managing debt adequately.
Gannon University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,656/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,656/yr |
| Average net price | $22,553/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $90,212 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,845 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,365 |
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: $40,656/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,553/year, or roughly $90,212 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 $18,489/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,445/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,800) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $18,489 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,945 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,352 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,354 |
| $110,001+ | $25,445 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $18,489 per year at Gannon, and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $15,945 - a step down that is unusual and suggests targeted aid for families just above the lowest bracket. At $18,489 annually, low-income students face total 4-year costs near $74,000. For students entering health professions programs with strong earnings, this cost is manageable. For students in lower-earning programs, the ROI case weakens at this price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $20,352 (48001-75000) and $23,354 (75001-110000) per year. Total 4-year costs between $81,000 and $93,000 position Gannon as a mid-price private option in the Pennsylvania market. Health professions and engineering students can justify these costs against program earnings. For students in business, criminal justice, or liberal arts, the payback from typical starting salaries against $22,000-$23,000 annual net price is a 10+ year project.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $25,445 per year - approximately $102,000 over four years. Against a 9.7-year payback period and $43,800 average earnings, the full-pay case requires deliberate program selection. Health professions and engineering graduates can achieve payback in 5-6 years even at this price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Gannon University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $93,419 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,161 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $80,846 | C+ |
| Biology | $60,846 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $73,971 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,000 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,856 | B |
| Accounting | $67,065 | - |
| Marketing | $63,492 | - |
| Teacher Education | $44,313 | - |
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.
Health Professions, Residency Programs
132 graduates, $93,419 four-year earnings, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.289 and median debt $27,000. This program - likely encompassing physician assistant, clinical, and allied health residency completions - produces the strongest four-year earnings at Gannon. The B+ grade with $93k at year four is strong for a regional Catholic institution. Students in Gannon's PA and clinical health programs enter a labor market with high and consistent demand. The low debt-to-earnings ratio at the B+ threshold is earned.
Mechanical Engineering
23 graduates, $65,796 year-one, $82,856 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.410 and median debt $27,000. Year-one earnings of $65,796 are above the institutional median by a wide margin, reflecting engineering demand in the Great Lakes manufacturing and industrial corridor. The B grade reflects debt at the $27,000 level against strong starting earnings.
Registered Nursing
51 graduates, $65,493 year-one, $80,846 year-four, ROI grade C+ with debt-to-earnings 0.450 and median debt $29,485. Year-one earnings of $65k are solid and reflect the Erie and Pittsburgh healthcare markets.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
24 graduates, $39,788 year-one, $55,000 year-four, ROI grade C with debt-to-earnings 0.618 and median debt $24,594. Criminal justice at Gannon shows modest earnings relative to debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Gannon University’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 | 74.2% |
| Enrollment | 2,365 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,733 |
At 74.2%, Gannon is accessible but not open. No test score data is reported, suggesting flexible admissions screening. Students who enroll in health professions or engineering tend to complete at higher rates than general enrollment suggests. Students entering less structured programs should ask about advising, retention resources, and typical time to degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Gannon's health professions infrastructure - clinical affiliations and the PA program - is a differentiating asset.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gannon University (this school) | 60 | $22,553 | $58,845 |
| North Central College | 63 | $21,044 | $60,123 |
| Lewis & Clark College | 61 | $36,013 | $62,205 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Gannon admits 74.2% of applicants with no test score ranges reported. Enrollment is 2,365 - a small-to-mid Catholic university with a health professions and engineering focus. Pell grant rate of 23.8% indicates a moderate lower-income population. Gannon's Catholic Mercy heritage shapes its mission, and the institution provides a relatively personal academic environment. Students targeting health professions, engineering, or pre-professional tracks find Gannon's program depth and clinical affiliations valuable. Erie's limited labor market means most graduates relocate to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Buffalo metro areas for employment.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Gannon University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,553 a year after aid ($90,212 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,845 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Gannon University: Common Questions
Is Gannon University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Gannon University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,553 a year after aid ($90,212 over four years) against $58,845 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Gannon University 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 $22,553 a year, or roughly $90,212 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 Gannon University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,845 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,045 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 Gannon University?
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 9.7 years for Gannon University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Gannon University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Gannon University?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.