Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, Pennsylvania · Public · 98.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Berks earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 58. Tuition is $15,972 in-state (out-of-state $26,958) with net price of $24,356 - notably higher than in-state tuition, indicating limited need-based aid plus living costs. Four-year cost is $97,424. Average earnings six years out are $43,600, climbing to a median $63,435 by year ten - solid trajectory reflecting the Penn State brand effect. Payback period of 8.3 years and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.573 produce workable economics. The fatal weakness is completion: only 31.5% of students graduate, scoring just 11 out of 100. The low completion is structural to the Penn State satellite system - many students enroll at Berks intending to transfer to University Park after two years (the '2+2' program), so degree completion at Berks itself is artificially depressed. Repayment rate of 79.3% is solid. Program-level data shows strong outcomes in CS, engineering, accounting, and IT (all B or B+ grades) and weak outcomes in psychology, biology, and drama. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Berks works well for transfer-bound students and STEM majors who complete locally; it works poorly for liberal arts students who don't transfer.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate31.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,972/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,958/yr |
| Average net price | $24,356/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $97,424 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 31.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,872 |
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: $15,972/year ($26,958/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 $24,356/year, or roughly $97,424 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 $16,429/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,541/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,600) and comes to 0.57, 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 | $16,429 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,862 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,583 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,465 |
| $110,001+ | $29,541 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $16,429 - just above in-state tuition, indicating modest need-based aid. Four-year cost around $66,000. For Pell-eligible students entering STEM or business programs, the math works given the Penn State brand effect.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-$48,000) pay $15,862 - actually slightly less than the lowest bracket. Brackets show a mild inversion across the bottom two tiers. Four-year cost around $63,000. The mid-bracket value here is the strongest sweet spot for the institution.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $29,541 - the highest bracket, consistent with a progressive aid formula. Four-year cost approaches $118,000.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,997 | B |
| Accounting | $88,192 | B |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $81,835 | B |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $77,336 | C |
| Teacher Education | $53,362 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $67,399 | D |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,635 | D |
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.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is Berks's largest program with 48 graduates. First-year earnings of $45,110 climb to $65,292 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.599 ratio and C ROI grade. Not a standout but a defensible choice for transfer-bound or terminal-degree students.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 42 students with first-year earnings of $69,772 climbing to $87,997 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.387 ratio and B ROI grade. Strong Pennsylvania industrial-manufacturing employer placements support the wages. A clear financial winner at the Berks campus.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 29 students annually with first-year earnings of $63,425 climbing to $88,192 by year four. Median debt of $26,000 produces a 0.41 ratio and B ROI grade. Solid placement into regional CPA firms and corporate accounting roles. A strong program within the Berks lineup.
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Electromechanical Technology graduates 26 students with first-year earnings of $65,043 climbing to $81,835 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.415 ratio and B ROI grade. The program serves Pennsylvania's manufacturing automation and industrial controls sectors. Strong applied-engineering value.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 24 students with first-year earnings of $32,408 against $27,000 debt - a 0.833 ratio and D ROI grade. Earnings climb to $49,543 by year four. Standard bachelor's-only psychology economics: weak immediate outcomes without graduate school follow-on. At Berks's price point the math is particularly tight.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks’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 | 98.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-635 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,872 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,158 |
Penn State Berks admits 98.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges (540-635 math, 550-640 reading) and ACT 18-27 indicate a student body with moderate academic preparation. The 31.5% completion rate is partly explained by the 2+2 transfer structure, but it also reflects the academic preparation challenge of an open-admission satellite.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks (this school) | 58 | $24,356 | $63,435 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Chadron State College | 50 | $12,549 | $47,002 |
| Shepherd University | 50 | $11,363 | $49,358 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment of 1,872 is small. Pell rate of 28.8% is moderate. The data is sharply program-driven: CS (B+), mechanical engineering (B), IT administration (B), and accounting (B) produce real returns; psychology, biology, drama, and the broader liberal arts produce weak immediate earnings. Students drawn here primarily for the Penn State name should pick a strong program or commit to transfer.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,356 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 8.3 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: its 31.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,356 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, so it takes about 8.3 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks 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 $24,356 a year, or roughly $97,424 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,435 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,635 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?
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 8.3 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?
The six-year graduation rate is 31.5%. 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.