King's College
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 93.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
King's College scores 59 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, a Catholic institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Sticker tuition is $44,100 but net price averages $23,093, reflecting substantial institutional aid. Median 6-year earnings of $44,400 and a 9.5-year payback period are modest. The completion rate of 59.9% — slightly below 60% — is a meaningful concern: four in ten students who enroll do not finish. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.608 are manageable for graduates but strain for non-completers. The repayment rate at year 7 is 80.4%, indicating most borrowers are making progress. Health Professions is the institutional standout: 71 graduates with $129,397 median year-four earnings and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.209 (A grade) — consistent with physician assistant and pre-professional health pipelines. Accounting earns a B-grade ROI at $61,680 year-one. Biology earns an F grade (debt-to-earnings 1.036) at the bachelor's level, reflecting science students entering graduate or medical programs with low early earnings. Most other programs cluster in the C–D range at a $44,100 sticker price that the aid discount brings down to a more competitive $23,000.
King's College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,100/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,100/yr |
| Average net price | $23,093/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,372 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,498 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,484 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at King's College is $44,100/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,093/year, or roughly $92,372 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $17,283/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,391/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $59,498 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.61 - 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 | $17,283 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,259 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,692 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,657 |
| $110,001+ | $28,391 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 bracket pay $17,283 per year. Sticker is $44,100 — the institutional discount to $17,283 is substantial. Over four years, $69,132 against $44,400 median 6-year earnings and a 9.5-year payback is marginal for most programs. Health professions and accounting graduates at this income level will see strong returns; students in humanities, communications, or social sciences face a tougher financial case.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,692 per year — $78,768 over four years. At $44,400 median earnings, this bracket is paying about 1.8 years of earnings upfront. The health professions pipeline dramatically outperforms this average; most other programs underperform it. Program selection is the decisive variable at this income level.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $28,391 per year — $113,564 over four years. At this cost, only health professions and accounting produce clearly defensible returns. Biology pre-med students at full pay are accumulating debt for a credential that will lead to further graduate debt; families should model the full educational cost arc, not just the undergraduate component.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at King's College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $129,397 | A |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,843 | C |
| Accounting | $77,892 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,563 | D |
| Biology | $63,617 | F |
| Psychology | $50,244 | C |
| Marketing | $69,051 | C |
| Teacher Education | $47,486 | D |
| Sociology | $48,529 | - |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $83,705 | 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.
Health Professions, Residency Programs
Health Professions is King's strongest program: 71 graduates, $129,397 median year-four earnings, debt-to-earnings of 0.209 (ROI grade A). This almost certainly captures the physician assistant program pipeline, where 4-year post-graduation earnings are well above $100k. Median debt of $27,000 is low relative to health profession salaries. This program drives significant institutional ROI value that the aggregate score understates.
Accounting
Accounting had 54 graduates at $61,680 year-one and $77,892 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.438 (ROI grade B). This is a clean outcome for a private school accounting program. CPA candidates will likely see earnings accelerate post-licensure. Median debt of $27,000 against $61,680 year-one earnings generates a manageable debt burden by accounting industry standards.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration had 69 graduates at $40,395 year-one and $62,843 year-four. Debt-to-earnings 0.668 (ROI grade C). Year-one earnings of $40,395 against $27,000 median debt is tight but manageable if graduates increase their earnings trajectory through the four-year mark. The C grade reflects a mid-range outcome at a $44,100 sticker institution — reasonable given the heavy aid discount.
Biology
Biology had 22 graduates at $26,074 year-one and $63,617 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.036 (F grade). The F grade is driven by low year-one earnings typical of pre-med and graduate school entrants. The large year-one to year-four spread suggests most biology graduates enter health professional school; the $63,617 figure reflects early residency earnings. Students entering this program should plan for graduate education debt on top of undergraduate debt.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice had 34 graduates at $35,761 year-one and $57,563 year-four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.755 (ROI grade D). Year-one earnings of $35,761 against $27,000 debt creates real pressure, though the four-year trajectory to $57,563 improves the picture. This is a common outcome for criminal justice programs at private institutions — the earnings growth is real but the starting point is financially fragile.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| Enrollment | 1,484 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,851 |
At 93.1% admission and SAT 530-650 ranges, King's College is broadly accessible. ACT data is not reported by the Scorecard. The institution's selectivity profile makes admission a low-hurdle; the more important question is what program a student enters and whether they finish. The 59.9% completion rate means students should have a concrete financial and academic plan for all four years before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, Albright College, Southern Nazarene University, St. Francis College, and AdventHealth University. Among small private Catholic and faith-based institutions in the Northeast, King's College's health professions outcomes are the standout differentiator. Albright College is a reasonable direct comparison — similar size, similar region, similar cost structure. King's net price discount of roughly 48% from sticker is more aggressive than many peers in this grouping.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| King's College (this school) | 59 | $23,093 | $59,498 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
King's College enrolls 1,484 students in Wilkes-Barre. The admission rate is 93.1%, with SAT Math 530-620 and Reading 540-650 mid-ranges. The Pell grant rate of 30.4% indicates meaningful low-income representation. The institution's Catholic Basilian identity shapes campus culture. Students targeting health professions, accounting, or the physician assistant pipeline will find strong outcome data here. Students in other programs should weigh the 59.9% completion rate and program-level ROI against the discounted net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for King's College is mixed. At $23,093 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $59,498 ten years after entry - a payback period of 9.5 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Median debt of $27,000 against $59,498 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.