Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana, Pennsylvania · Public · 90.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) scores 44 (Poor Value) on CampusROI -- a result driven by weak median earnings ($33,400 at six years), a 12.9-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.802, and a completion rate of 55.5%. Fewer than six in ten students who enroll graduate, and the 78.2% three-year repayment rate, while adequate, does not offset the structural challenges in the earnings data. IUP is a PASSHE institution enrolling 6,764 students in Indiana, PA, with 90.8% admission. In-state tuition is $11,380 but net price reaches $16,804 -- higher than sticker for some brackets because of limited grant aid. The program profile shows wide variation: Quality Control and Safety Technologies (44 graduates, B-grade, $68,996 year-one) and Registered Nursing (115 graduates, B-grade, $68,936 year-one) are genuine standouts with debt-to-earnings ratios under 0.40. At the other extreme, Drama/Theatre (F-grade, DTR 1.297), English Literature (F-grade, DTR 1.208), Foods/Nutrition (F-grade, DTR 1.125), and Fine Arts (F-grade, DTR 1.051) carry year-one earnings well below $26,000. The 36.8% Pell grant rate reflects that IUP serves a substantial lower-income population at a school where program choice determines financial outcome almost entirely.
The data raises concerns about Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,380/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,297/yr |
| Average net price | $16,804/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $67,216 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,019 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,798 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $284 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,764 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus is $11,380/year ($16,297/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $16,804/year, or roughly $67,216 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,364/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,933/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,798 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $284 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,019 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - 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 | $12,364 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,851 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,516 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,722 |
| $110,001+ | $21,933 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,364 per year at IUP; the $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $11,851 -- slightly less, reflecting aid formula quirks. Over four years, roughly $47,000-$49,000. Against $33,400 median earnings and a 12.9-year payback, the value case is narrow. Low-income students who enroll in nursing or quality/safety technology face a much better calculus than the institutional median implies.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $14,516; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $19,722. The aid taper is steep in the upper-middle range. At $20,000 per year for a school with a 55.5% completion rate, program selection is essential. Middle-income families should model program-specific net price and expected earnings rather than relying on institutional averages.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $21,933 per year. IUP at near full-pay for liberal arts or humanities programs is hard to justify given the completion rate and earnings data. Health sciences and technology programs make a reasonable case at this price. High-income families with in-state Pennsylvania residency and students targeting nursing or technical fields find IUP financially workable; other majors do not clear the bar.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | $53,762 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $82,343 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,931 | C |
| Psychology | $45,420 | D |
| Biology | $49,673 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,582 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,984 | D |
| Marketing | $58,043 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $52,359 | D |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $90,257 | B |
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.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Quality Control and Safety Technologies (44 graduates) earns $68,996 year-one and $90,257 at year four -- exceptional outcomes for a PASSHE institution. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.381 (ROI grade B) with median debt of $26,288 confirms the math is strong. This is IUP's highest-returning technical program. Industrial safety and quality roles in manufacturing, healthcare, and government are stable nationally. For students willing to target this field, IUP's program delivers real return.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (115 graduates -- IUP's largest program in this data) earns $68,936 year-one and $82,343 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.392 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000 is manageable against those earnings. Nursing is structurally the most defensible major at IUP for students in any income bracket. Regional healthcare demand in Pennsylvania is stable, and the RN credential is portable nationally.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (27 graduates) earns $54,561 year-one and $77,097 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.495 (ROI grade C+). Median debt of $27,000 is workable against $54k starting. C+ reflects decent but not outstanding outcomes; CS graduates from regional PASSHE schools compete with graduates from Penn State, CMU, and Pitt in Pennsylvania. Students who build strong technical portfolios during enrollment improve their position significantly.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (86 graduates) earns $42,362 year-one and $58,931 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.637 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $27,000 against $42k starting is manageable but not comfortable. The C grade is the honest assessment: adequate outcomes in a regional market. Business at IUP is defensible for in-state students at low net price, less so at the $16,804 average net price if better-valued alternatives exist.
Psychology
Psychology (71 graduates) earns $32,694 year-one and $45,420 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.826 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 against $32,694 starting salary is tight. The four-year trajectory to $45k does not substantially improve the debt math without graduate credentials. Students interested in psychology should plan the cost of a master's or doctoral program into their full financial model before choosing IUP for this major.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 6,764 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,877 |
IUP is effectively open access at 90.8% admission. SAT ranges of 480-580 Math and 490-600 Reading, ACT 20-27 describe the admitted pool. The relevant question is not admission but the financial case: a 12.9-year payback period and 55.5% completion rate mean the risk at enrollment is real, and program selection determines whether IUP is financially defensible.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IUP's peer set includes Cheyney University, East Stroudsburg University, Louisiana State University-Alexandria, Nicholls State University, and Idaho State University -- all regional public access universities with moderate completion and earnings profiles. Among PASSHE peers, East Stroudsburg has higher completion and is a reasonable comparison point. IUP's 44 score reflects a school where the program mix, dominated by arts and social sciences graduates, pulls the median earnings down below what the health and technical programs would alone produce. Students who evaluate IUP by the institutional score rather than their specific program are reading the wrong number.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus (this school) | 44 | $16,804 | $51,019 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Nicholls State University | 44 | $12,947 | $45,454 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
IUP admits 90.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 480-580 Math and 490-600 Reading, ACT 20-27. At 6,764 students, it is mid-sized for a PASSHE regional campus. The 36.8% Pell rate reflects meaningful lower-income enrollment. Program selection is the central decision: students in health sciences, technology, and business-quantitative tracks face very different outcomes than students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. IUP's location in rural western Pennsylvania limits local labor market access beyond the health and education sectors; students in other fields benefit from planning their geographic mobility early.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus. With a net cost of $16,804 per year and median graduate earnings of only $51,019 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,798 against $51,019 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.