Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania · Public · 86.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Millersville University of Pennsylvania scores 53 (Below Average Value) and charges $11,128 in-state tuition. Median debt of $23,507 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.660 means graduates owe two-thirds of a year's salary. The 80.5% repayment rate is workable. Nursing is far and away Millersville's best program; most other programs produce C, D, or F ROI grades. The school's heavy concentration in teacher education, humanities, and arts creates a drag on aggregate outcomes that the lower-cost PASSHE pricing does not fully compensate.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,128/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,952/yr |
| Average net price | $20,787/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,148 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,246 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,507 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $249 |
| Estimated payback period | 11 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,728 |
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: $11,128/year ($22,952/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 $20,787/year, or roughly $83,148 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 $14,565/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,541/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,507, which works out to about $249 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,600) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $14,565 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,313 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,961 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,010 |
| $110,001+ | $24,541 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $14,565 net per year. This suggests Millersville's aid model is not particularly generous to its lowest-income students. Nursing graduates face a much shorter timeline.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,961 net and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $22,010. These are real costs for middle-income families at a public university. CS and nursing graduates produce workable returns; most other programs at this net price are poor investments.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $24,541 net per year - about $98,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Millersville University of Pennsylvania with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $98,216 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,121 | C |
| Biology | $57,483 | C |
| Psychology | $49,374 | D |
| Teacher Education | $49,373 | C |
| Social Work | $49,400 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $86,012 | C+ |
| Special Education and Teaching | $53,356 | C |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $46,119 | D |
| Music | $40,713 | 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 (113 graduates - Millersville's largest program by volume) earns $82,137 at year one and $98,216 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.403 (ROI grade B) and $33,124 median debt. The debt load is higher than ideal, but year-one earnings above $82k produce rapid payback. Nursing is Millersville's strongest program by a wide margin and the primary financial argument for enrollment.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (59 graduates) earns $55,402 at year one and $86,012 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.468 (ROI grade C+) and $25,950 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $86k is solid. Lancaster County and the southeast Pennsylvania tech corridor provide employer demand. At in-state prices, CS is a defensible investment even at C+ grade.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (112 graduates) earns $45,396 at year one and $65,121 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.551 (ROI grade C) and $25,000 median debt. Returns are mediocre. The C-grade outcome at in-state prices is acceptable but not impressive.
Music
Music (39 graduates) earns $26,895 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.004 (ROI grade F) and $27,000 median debt - graduates owe exactly one full year's salary at graduation. Entry-level music performance and education roles in Pennsylvania earn modest wages, so the debt load at Millersville's net price deserves a close look against the outcomes. Students who want music education careers should study the job market carefully before committing.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (34 graduates) earns $24,990 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.080 (ROI grade F) and $27,000 median debt. This is one of Millersville's worst ROI programs. Entry-level studio arts roles in Pennsylvania are low-paying and competitive. Graduates owe more than annual earnings from day one. Even at in-state public prices, this program does not produce favorable financial outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Millersville 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 | 86.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| Enrollment | 5,728 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,531 |
An 86.2% acceptance rate makes Millersville broadly accessible. The SAT range of 500-590 Math covers a wide academic distribution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania (this school) | 53 | $20,787 | $55,246 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Augusta University | 54 | $13,787 | $48,472 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| University of Northern Colorado | 50 | $17,760 | $52,231 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Millersville admits 86.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 500-590 Math and 520-620 Reading - broadly accessible. The 5,728-student enrollment is mid-sized. The 27.3% Pell rate reflects moderate economic diversity. Millersville draws primarily from Lancaster County and southeast Pennsylvania. Students targeting nursing, computer science, or chemistry will find strong programs at in-state public prices. Millersville's education programs have historical strength in the Lancaster market but the Scorecard earnings data is mediocre.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Millersville University of Pennsylvania is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,787 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,246 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11 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: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $23,507 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania: Common Questions
Is Millersville University of Pennsylvania worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Millersville University of Pennsylvania scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,787 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,246 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Millersville 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 $20,787 a year, or roughly $83,148 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 Millersville University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,246 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,446 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 Millersville 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 11 years for Millersville University of Pennsylvania. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Millersville University of Pennsylvania graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,507, against average earnings of $35,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 Millersville University of Pennsylvania?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.6%. 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.