Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Erie, Pennsylvania · Public · 96.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Erie-Behrend College scores 60 (Fair Value). The engineering programs are strong - Computer Engineering earns a B+ grade with $85,446 year-one - but the completion rate of 43.6% is low, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.573 is mediocre. Net price averages $24,558 with a four-year total cost of $98,232. Average 6-year earnings of $43,600 are adequate but not compelling at that cost level.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,972/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,958/yr |
| Average net price | $24,558/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,232 |
| 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 | 8.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,240 |
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 $24,558/year, or roughly $98,232 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 $16,092/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,692/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 | $16,092 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,884 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,539 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,914 |
| $110,001+ | $29,692 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $16,092 net price per year - about $64,000 over four years. Average 6-year earnings are $43,600. Engineering and nursing students achieve much better returns. The 43.6% completion rate is the critical risk for all income groups.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $20,539 per year. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $26,914. The step increase is large across the income bands.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $29,692 per year - roughly $119,000 over four years. At this price, the ROI case depends almost entirely on engineering, nursing, or finance outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,997 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $96,714 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Polymer/Plastics Engineering | $87,636 | B |
| Marketing | $79,343 | C+ |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| Computer Engineering | $112,269 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $101,854 | 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 Engineering
Computer Engineering (33 graduates) is Behrend's strongest program: $85,446 year-one, $112,269 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.313 (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory to $112k is the best in the catalog and reflects strong program placement.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (67 graduates) earns $69,772 year-one and $87,997 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.387 (ROI grade B). Erie's manufacturing ecosystem provides local placement, and the Penn State brand supports regional and national job searches. This is Behrend's highest-volume engineering program with solid if not exceptional outcomes.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (43 graduates) earns $68,552 year-one and $96,714 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.370 (ROI grade B). The four-year jump to $96k is strong - reflecting graduates entering financial services roles in larger markets. Behrend's Levin College of Business provides a structured pathway into regional and national finance careers.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (39 graduates) earns $77,955 year-one and $91,032 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.346 (ROI grade B+). Erie's healthcare sector, including Hamot Medical Center, provides placement for nursing graduates. The B+ grade and strong earnings make nursing one of Behrend's most efficient programs by cost-to-earnings.
Psychology
Psychology (37 graduates) earns $32,408 year-one and $49,543 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.833 (ROI grade D). At a $24,558 net price, psychology at Behrend produces a debt load nearly equal to a year's earnings. Students interested in psychology should model whether they can complete a path that justifies the credential cost.
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 Erie-Behrend College’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 | 96.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 3,240 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,333 |
Behrend's admission rate is 96.8%.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (this school) | 60 | $24,558 | $63,435 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | 64 | $10,051 | $55,563 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| Salem State University | 58 | $15,996 | $56,662 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Behrend admits 96.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 560-660 Math and 560-650 Reading, ACT 25-31 composite. At 3,240 students it is a small regional campus in Erie, Pennsylvania. Students choosing humanities or social sciences at this price point see D grades in English, History and Psychology.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $24,558 a year after aid ($98,232 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What to keep an eye on: its 43.6% 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 Erie-Behrend College: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,558 a year after aid ($98,232 over four years) against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 $24,558 a year, or roughly $98,232 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 Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College?
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 8.4 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.6%. 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.