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 - typical for a satellite campus of a major state university. 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. Median earnings six years out are $43,600, climbing to $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. Students who finish at Berks and those who transfer through to University Park have much better outcomes than the institution-wide number suggests. 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.
The data raises concerns about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate31.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
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 |
| Median 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). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $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.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,435 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.57, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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. Lower-income students should compare against Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools for potentially better aid packages.
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. At this price point full-pay families should compare against alternatives like West Chester, Drexel, or Temple - or directly attempt University Park admission. The premium for the Berks campus specifically is hard to justify.
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. Mid-tier business outcomes consistent with Pennsylvania's strong commercial economy. 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 | 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
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 - effectively open admission as a Penn State commonwealth campus. 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. Students bound for the more competitive University Park transfer should treat the Berks campus as a stepping stone.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Penn State Berks's peers include Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg University, Miami University-Hamilton, Chadron State College, and Shepherd University. Within this set Berks's 58 score is in line with the satellite-campus norm. East Stroudsburg and Shepherd typically score similarly; Miami-Hamilton scores comparable; Cheyney scores lower. The peer comparison confirms Berks as a representative regional/satellite campus.
| 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
Penn State Berks fits Pennsylvania students seeking either the 2+2 transfer pathway to University Park or a direct four-year credential in its strong STEM and business programs. 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 - slower than most four-year schools. 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 against $63,435 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.