Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 82.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 34/100 · Poor Value
Mount Aloysius College, a small Catholic Mercy-tradition private in rural Cresson, PA (in the Allegheny Mountains between Pittsburgh and Altoona), posts an ROI score of 34 -- Poor Value tier. The numbers behind it explain the tier: median 10-year earnings of $46,165 are modest, modeled payback runs 20.5 years, debt-to-earnings sits at 0.72 against median debt of $24,287. Completion is 56.9% -- middling. The relative bright spot is the 5-year repayment rate of 68.0% (and 79.7% at three years), suggesting graduates do service their debt even when earnings are compressed. Net price of $22,344 is high relative to the $27,072 sticker -- meaning institutional aid is thin. Pell rate of 15.4% is low for the school's profile, suggesting a relatively middle-income student body that bears more of the cost. The dominant program is nursing -- 46 graduates per year, $72,659 first-year and $87,928 four years out, with a C+ ROI grade. Allied health (10 graduates) also clears C+. Outside of those two health-track programs, business posts a D grade and outcomes weaken. Mount Aloysius is essentially a Mercy-tradition nursing school in rural Pennsylvania; for non-nursing students, Pennsylvania's strong public alternatives (Penn State, IUP, Pitt-Johnstown) offer better ROI.
The data raises concerns about Mount Aloysius College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score34/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Mount Aloysius College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,072/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,072/yr |
| Average net price | $22,344/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,376 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,165 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,287 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,094 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Mount Aloysius College is $27,072/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,344/year, or roughly $89,376 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,530/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,786/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,287 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $257 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,165 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.72 - 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 | $21,530 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,389 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,770 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,769 |
| $110,001+ | $26,786 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $21,530 net annually -- minimal discounting versus the $22,344 average. Pell carries most of the load, but institutional aid is thin. Four-year cost runs about $86,000. For a Pell-eligible nursing student who completes, the math pencils against $87,928 four-year nursing earnings; for non-nursing tracks, the four-year cost relative to median earnings ($46,165) is hard to defend.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $20,389, the $48,001-$75,000 group pays $19,770 (the lowest in the schedule), and the $75,001-$110,000 range pays $21,769. Middle-income four-year totals run $79,000-$87,000. The narrow spread across most of the schedule suggests Mount Aloysius offers fairly flat institutional aid that doesn't reward high need or high merit aggressively. Middle-income students need a major upgrade (nursing) for the math to work.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,786 -- about 99% of sticker, indicating essentially no institutional discounting at the top. Four years runs roughly $107,000. With median 10-year earnings under $47,000, the lifetime ROI math is weak unless the student is in nursing. High-income families should compare against Penn State seriously.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Mount Aloysius College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,928 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $45,714 | D |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $66,959 | C+ |
| Accounting | $55,261 | - |
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 Mount Aloysius's flagship and the program where the math works. With 46 graduates per year, $72,659 first-year and $87,928 four-year median earnings, nursing graduates earn well. The catch is debt: median debt of $33,750 is high for a nursing program, producing a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade (just barely cleared the C+/B threshold). The Pittsburgh and Altoona hospital networks deliver clinical placements; nursing demand in central Pennsylvania is durable. Prospective nursing students should aggressively pursue scholarships to bring debt down.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied health graduates 10 students per year with $55,139 first-year and $66,959 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $26,664 yields a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Smaller cohort than nursing but the math also pencils for allied health credentials (radiologic tech, sonography). The licensed clinical pathway gives durability.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 4 students per year with $55,261 four-year median earnings (first-year not reported). Median debt is not reported, so the formal ROI grade is null. Cohort is too small to draw firm conclusions, but the four-year earnings figure is modest for an accounting credential -- below typical regional peer outcomes. Prospective accounting students should compare against IUP or Pitt-Johnstown business programs.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business graduates 19 students per year and posts a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $36,952 and four-year earnings of $45,714 are paired with median debt of $27,000, producing a 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio. Outcomes are well below typical business-program benchmarks. The math doesn't pencil; prospective business students should look at PA public alternatives (Penn State, IUP, Pitt-Johnstown) where in-state pricing and stronger placement networks would deliver better ROI.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 445-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 473-598 |
| Enrollment | 1,094 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,396 |
Mount Aloysius admits 82.1% of applicants -- broadly accessible. SAT mid-range runs 445-570 math and 473-598 reading -- somewhat below national averages. ACT scores are not reported. The 56.9% completion rate is roughly what selectivity would predict -- moderate accessibility paired with moderate persistence. Prospective students should self-assess academic preparation, particularly given the rigor required for the nursing prerequisite and clinical sequence.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Mount Aloysius's named peers are Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, Albright College, Our Lady of the Lake University, University of Pikeville, and Emory and Henry University. The peer set is small Christian/Catholic privates in the mid-Atlantic and Appalachia. Within Pennsylvania, Mount Aloysius is comparable to other small Catholic schools like Seton Hill and Saint Vincent on enrollment scale, but those peers post stronger non-nursing outcomes. Albright (also PA) is a similar regional Catholic peer with slightly better metrics. Mount Aloysius's relative position is below the typical Pennsylvania small-Catholic-college median.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Aloysius College (this school) | 34 | $22,344 | $46,165 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
| University of Pikeville | 33 | $20,311 | $48,231 |
| Emory & Henry University | 33 | $19,061 | $47,385 |
Who Thrives Here
Mount Aloysius fits a rural Pennsylvania, often place-bound student drawn to a small Mercy-tradition Catholic campus and a clear nursing or allied health pathway. Enrollment of 1,094 keeps classes intimate. Pell rate of 15.4% is unusually low for a school in this ROI tier, suggesting middle-income family backgrounds rather than high-need profiles. Strong fits are nursing students who can complete the rigorous BSN sequence. Weaker fits are business and general-studies students who would face the school's worst ROI subgroups; those students should look at Penn State (main or Altoona campus), IUP, or Pitt-Johnstown for stronger value.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Mount Aloysius College. With a net cost of $22,344 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,165 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,287 against $46,165 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.