Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Monaca, Pennsylvania · Public · 95.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Penn State Beaver scores 64 (Fair Value), with two strong sub-scores doing most of the work: a 40.8% earnings premium (one of the higher numbers in the dataset) and a 7.4-year payback period (top-quartile fast). Median earnings climb from $43,600 at 6 years to $63,435 at 10 years - a strong trajectory reflecting the Penn State brand and Pittsburgh-area placement. The 79.3% three-year repayment rate is solid. The dominant drag is completion: 21.7% - one of the lowest reported in the dataset, but this reflects the campus's role as a 2-plus-2 feeder where most students transfer to Penn State University Park to finish. The completion rate is artifact-low because students who transfer don't count as completers at this campus. In-state tuition is $14,408, net price $17,418, and median debt is $25,000. The 0.573 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable. Penn State Beaver is small (482 students) and serves western PA students who use it as a less-expensive entry point into the Penn State system. Reading the 21.7% completion rate as a quality signal would be misleading; the program-level outcomes (mostly B and C+ grades) tell a more accurate story of strong long-run results for students who finish their degree somewhere in the Penn State system.
The data raises concerns about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate21.7% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,408/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,134/yr |
| Average net price | $17,418/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $69,672 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 21.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 482 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver is $14,408/year ($24,134/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 $17,418/year, or roughly $69,672 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,228/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,285/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $63,435 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.57 - 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 | $9,228 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,366 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,831 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,143 |
| $110,001+ | $22,285 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $9,228 net annually, but the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays even less ($8,366) - an inverted pattern likely reflecting how Pell stacks with PA state grants and Penn State institutional aid most favorably in the second tier. Over four years that's $33K-$37K through the Beaver campus, which against $63K median 10-year earnings is genuinely strong value for low-and-lower-middle-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $15,831 - meaningfully more than the lower brackets. This is where the Beaver campus's 2-plus-2 strategy is financially most attractive: students save the price differential between commonwealth and University Park campuses for two years, then complete the degree at the brand-name campus.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket families ($110,001+) pay $22,285 - close to the published net price. Out-of-state high-income families paying full freight should look hard at whether Penn State Beaver offers a clear advantage versus their in-state options; for in-state PA high-income families the math holds against private alternatives but is unremarkable versus Pitt or Penn State University Park direct admission.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,505 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $75,396 | C+ |
| Human Resources Management | $81,755 | C+ |
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 (1 graduate at this campus, but the program is system-shared) earns a B+ grade with $77,955 first-year and $91,032 four-year earnings against $27,000 median debt (0.346 ratio). The numbers reflect Penn State system nursing outcomes broadly, with Pittsburgh-area placement supporting the strong earnings. For students who can complete the BSN credential, this is an exceptional ROI track.
Information Science
Information Science (10 graduates) earns a B grade with $66,209 first-year and $91,671 four-year earnings against $26,000 median debt (0.393 ratio). The strong climb across four years reflects Pittsburgh's growing tech employer base. A reliable financial track that competes well with engineering programs at much pricier institutions.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is the largest reported program at 17 graduates per year. Median earnings of $45,110 first-year and $65,292 four-year against $27,000 median debt produce a 0.599 ratio (C grade). The earnings climb is healthy. A defensible mainstream choice - the Penn State brand helps placement even in the broader management track.
Psychology
Psychology (20 graduates) shows the typical psychology trap: $32,408 first-year earnings against $27,000 median debt yields a 0.833 ratio (D grade). Four-year earnings of $49,543 partially redeem the picture. As elsewhere, this program is a feeder for graduate study; terminal-bachelor's outcomes are structurally tight.
Biology
Biology (13 graduates) earns a D grade with $33,417 first-year and $64,910 four-year earnings against $26,000 median debt (0.778 ratio). The wide first-year-to-four-year gap is typical for biology - graduates need professional or graduate school to reach the higher figure. Strong students continuing to medical, dental, or PA school see excellent long-run outcomes; terminal-bachelor's is harder.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 95.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-27 |
| Enrollment | 482 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,688 |
Penn State Beaver admits 95.7% of applicants - effectively open admission for a Penn State campus. SAT mid-ranges (math 550-660, reading 530-630) and ACT 24-27 indicate solidly prepared students, comparable to many Penn State commonwealth campuses. The combination of high admit rate and the 21.7% (transfer-distorted) completion rate makes selectivity a poor predictor here; students should focus on the 2-plus-2 transfer pathway and academic support resources rather than admit-rate signals.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (PA HBCU), East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, University of Maine at Fort Kent, Ohio University Zanesville Campus, and Ohio State University Lima Campus. The two Ohio branch-campus peers are the closest functional comparisons - both serve similar 2-plus-2 transfer roles. Penn State Beaver's 10-year earnings of $63,435 outperform both Ohio peers significantly, reflecting the Penn State brand premium that students earn at University Park or wherever they finish. Among regional 2-plus-2 publics nationally, Penn State Beaver sits in the upper half on long-run outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (this school) | 64 | $17,418 | $63,435 |
| Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 68 | $12,940 | $60,409 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | 64 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 60 | $5,746 | $52,581 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Penn State Beaver's 482 enrollment, 31.9% Pell rate, and Monaca location define a small commuter campus serving western PA students. Best fit: students who plan to use the Beaver campus as a financially efficient first 1-2 years before transferring to Penn State University Park or another commonwealth campus to finish in their major. The campus is particularly strong for nursing and information science feeder tracks. Mismatch: students looking to complete their full bachelor's degree on the Beaver campus face limited major options and the apparent low-completion artifact in institutional data.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $17,418 per year leads to $69,672 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $63,435 a decade out. The payback period of 7.4 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 21.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 against $63,435 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.