Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania · Public · 95.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Fayette-Eberly scores 69 (Fair Value) on CampusROI, a composite that captures a real tension: strong earnings premium and earnings outcomes but a completion rate of 38.6%. In-state tuition of $14,408 and a net price of $14,596 put total 4-year cost at $58,384. Average 6-year earnings of $43,600 and a 7-year payback are solid relative to cost for graduates who finish. Registered Nursing is the top program: 32 graduates, $77,955 year-one, $91,032 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.346 (B+). Management Information Systems (no reported graduates) reaches $66,169 year-one and $95,935 year-four at a B grade. Electromechanical Technologies (9 graduates) earns $65,043 year-one. The campus serves Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania with 402 enrolled students - an access-mission branch campus where most students are local and working adults. The repayment rate of 79.3% at year three is actually decent given the low completion rate, suggesting those who do graduate and borrow are managing debt reasonably well. The 38.6% completion rate is the defining risk of this institution.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly 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 rate38.6% - 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 Fayette- Eberly
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,408/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,134/yr |
| Average net price | $14,596/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $58,384 |
| 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 | 7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 402 |
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: $14,408/year ($24,134/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 $14,596/year, or roughly $58,384 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 $9,445/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,545/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 | $9,445 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,574 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,644 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,165 |
| $110,001+ | $22,545 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $9,445 per year at Penn State Fayette - a total 4-year cost around $37,780 at that net price. With average 6-year earnings of $43,600, the payback period for low-income graduates is well under 10 years. However, the 38.6% completion rate means that a large proportion of students from this bracket leave without graduating. For those who complete a nursing or technical program, the investment is clearly justified. Non-completers bear debt without the credential benefit.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $11,644 per year; the 75001-110000 band pays $13,165. Middle-income families get meaningful value here if their student completes - the 7-year payback period applies to graduates, not the full enrollment cohort. Program selection matters significantly: nursing, MIS, and electromechanical grads achieve outcomes that cover these costs quickly; business and communications grads face longer payback periods.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families (110001-plus) pay $22,545 per year - $90,180 over four years. At average 6-year earnings of $43,600, this is still a manageable investment for graduates, but the higher net price compresses the value proposition.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $81,835 | B |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,943 | D |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 | D |
| Management Information Systems | $95,935 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,505 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (32 graduates) is the strongest program at Penn State Fayette: $77,955 year-one, $91,032 year-four, median debt $27,000, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.346 (ROI grade B+). At a 4-year total cost of $58,384, nursing graduates here achieve a strong return. The year-one figure of $77,955 reflects immediate placement in the southwestern Pennsylvania healthcare market. Nursing at this campus delivers Penn State credentials at branch-campus cost, which is a meaningful value proposition for local healthcare workers.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems reaches $66,169 year-one and $95,935 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.393 (ROI grade B). Graduate count is reported as 0 - indicating the Scorecard data captures earners without attributing specific graduates to this cohort. If representative, the year-four figure of $95,935 is strong. MIS graduates enter enterprise software, IT administration, and data analysis roles where the Penn State credential carries weight in regional employer markets.
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Electromechanical Technologies (9 graduates) earns $65,043 year-one and $81,835 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.415 (ROI grade B). This is an applied technical program with strong immediate employment in manufacturing, industrial maintenance, and utilities. At $65,043 year-one, graduates enter the workforce at wages that cover median debt of $27,000 within approximately 18 months. For technically oriented students at this campus, this program offers a clear path to skilled trades employment.
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 Fayette- Eberly’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 | 95.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| Enrollment | 402 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,599 |
Admissions are essentially open at 95.5%. SAT ranges of 540-590 Math and 580-660 Reading are entry-level for the PSU system. Net price by income ranges from $8,574 (30001-48000 band) to $22,545 (110001-plus), with the lowest band at $9,445. For low- and middle-income students, this is the most accessible Penn State entry point financially.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly (this school) | 69 | $14,596 | $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-Eastern Campus | 62 | $3,925 | $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 Fayette admits 95.5% of applicants with mid-range SAT scores of 540-590 Math and 580-660 Reading (ACT not reported). It has 402 students. Pell grant rate of 38.7% reflects a working-class, often first-generation student population. Students considering transfer to University Park after 2 years frequently use this campus as an entry point.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,596 a year after aid ($58,384 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 38.6% 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 Fayette- Eberly: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,596 a year after aid ($58,384 over four years) against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7 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 Fayette- Eberly 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 $14,596 a year, or roughly $58,384 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 Fayette- Eberly 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 Fayette- Eberly?
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 7 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly 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 Fayette- Eberly?
The six-year graduation rate is 38.6%. 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.