Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
Media, Pennsylvania · Public · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Penn State Brandywine scores 59 (Below Average Value), a number complicated by its position as a commuter Penn State branch campus where many students transfer to University Park after two years. The headline data: $15,208 in-state tuition, $22,585 net price, $25,000 median federal debt, and ten-year median earnings of $63,435 - the highest 10-year earnings number of any school in this batch. Debt-to-earnings of 0.573 and payback of 8.1 years are both healthy. The score is dragged dramatically by completion rate of just 25.98%, which reflects the campus's role as a transfer feeder rather than a four-year degree producer; many students who 'don't complete' at Brandywine in fact transfer and graduate from Penn State University Park. Earnings premium of 31.5% and repayment rate of 79.3% are both strong. Brandywine's small 1,223-student campus offers tightly focused engineering, IT, and business programs that feed into greater Philadelphia and Penn State's broader pipeline. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Brandywine is structurally better than its 59 score suggests once you adjust for the transfer dynamic.
The data raises concerns about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate26.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,208/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,392/yr |
| Average net price | $22,585/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $90,340 |
| 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 | 8.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 26.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,223 |
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 Brandywine is $15,208/year ($25,392/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 $22,585/year, or roughly $90,340 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $15,904/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,031/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 | $15,904 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,580 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,157 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,067 |
| $110,001+ | $29,031 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $15,904 net per year, and the $30K-$48K band pays slightly more at $16,580 - a small irregularity. Pell stacks on top of Penn State institutional aid, but the residual cost is meaningful given Brandywine's mostly commuter model. Strong value for in-state low-income students who plan to transfer up.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $21,157 and the $75K-$110K band climbs to $25,067 - approaching the out-of-state tuition sticker. Middle-income families face roughly $85K-$100K in four-year out-of-pocket cost, which only works if the student picks engineering, CS, or completes the transfer to University Park where post-graduation earnings can support it.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $29,031 net per year - higher than the $25,392 out-of-state sticker would suggest is possible, indicating that aid is essentially zero and full cost-of-attendance applies. High-income Philadelphia-area families should weigh whether the branch experience justifies near-full pay or whether they're better served paying similar money at University Park with its full residential experience.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,943 | D |
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,505 | D |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Engineering, General | $88,063 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $120,729 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $50,299 | D |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS posts $84,050 first-year earnings on $26,000 debt for a 0.309 D/E ratio and B+ grade - the strongest ROI on campus. With only 7 graduates the cohort is small, but starting earnings nearly identical to University Park CS grads suggests Brandywine's CIS pipeline punches above its branch-campus weight in the Philadelphia tech market.
Information Science
Information Science produces 16 graduates with $66,209 first-year earnings, $26,000 debt, and a 0.393 D/E ratio (B grade). Larger cohort than CIS and consistent strong outcomes feeding into Wilmington and Philadelphia financial-services IT roles. Solid, defensible value path.
Business Administration and Management
Business Admin is the largest single major with 44 graduates and $45,110 first-year earnings against $27,000 debt - a 0.599 D/E ratio earning a C grade. Middle-of-the-pack outcomes that clear debt service comfortably but lack the upside of the CS and engineering paths. Reasonable default for students wanting general business credentials.
Psychology
Psychology enrolls 20 graduates with $32,408 first-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 0.833 D/E ratio (D grade). The bachelor's-only psychology problem in concentrated form: debt nearly matches starting earnings. Students choosing this path need a clear graduate-school plan; treating the bachelor's as terminal produces years of payment stress.
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Human Development enrolls 17 graduates with $34,030 first-year earnings, $28,000 debt, and a 0.823 D/E ratio (D grade). Similar to psychology - feeds social services and education-adjacent roles where the bachelor's caps earnings well below what the debt service requires. Weak ROI absent licensure or graduate study.
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 | 98.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| Enrollment | 1,223 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,857 |
Brandywine admits 98.1% of applicants - essentially open access, consistent with Penn State's branch-campus enrollment strategy. SAT mid-ranges of 530-660 math and 550-650 reading place admitted students above the national average, suggesting the school attracts solid applicants despite the high admit rate. The 26% completion rate looks alarming in isolation but reflects the branch-to-flagship transfer pattern, not academic failure - many students complete their degrees at Penn State University Park after two years here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, Brandywine's 59 ROI is competitive with other regional commuter campuses. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (the oldest HBCU) and East Stroudsburg post lower ROIs with weaker earnings outcomes. Ohio University-Chillicothe and Miami University-Middletown are direct analogs - branch campuses of state flagships - and post similar scores with comparable completion challenges. Oklahoma Panhandle State scores below Brandywine. Among the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses overall, Brandywine sits in the middle, ahead of more rural branches and behind ones closer to industry hubs.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine (this school) | 59 | $22,585 | $63,435 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 63 | $10,809 | $55,076 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 60 | $5,755 | $52,581 |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State University | 53 | $7,413 | $44,933 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Brandywine fits cost-conscious Philadelphia-area students who want Penn State access without paying full University Park tuition or housing. With 33.7% Pell rate and 1,223 students, the campus is small and commuter-heavy. Strong fit for engineering, IT, and business students who plan to transfer to University Park for upper-division coursework. Weaker fit for students who plan to complete a bachelor's at the branch level - the program menu is limited and the labor-market signal of a 'Penn State Brandywine' diploma is weaker than the main campus.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine is mixed. At $22,585 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry - a payback period of 8.1 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include a 26.0% 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.