Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, Pennsylvania · Public · 97.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Harrisburg scores 59 (Below Average Value). The eight-year payback and $43,600 average six-year earnings suggest the degree is worth having, but most students who enroll never get it. The 97.6% acceptance rate confirms open enrollment at what is effectively a continuing-education-oriented campus that serves working adults and career-changers. Computer and Information Sciences (47 graduates, $84,050 year one) and Registered Nursing (54 graduates, $77,955 year one) produce genuinely strong outcomes. Students who complete degrees in STEM or health fields are in excellent financial shape; the completion problem is the institution's defining challenge.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg 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 rate26.1% - 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 Harrisburg
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,972/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,958/yr |
| Average net price | $23,330/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,320 |
| 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 | 8.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 26.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,031 |
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 $23,330/year, or roughly $93,320 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 $16,219/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,834/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 | $16,219 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,221 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,176 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,103 |
| $110,001+ | $29,834 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays $16,219 per year. Low-income students in CS, nursing, or engineering who complete their degree will get very good financial outcomes. The completion risk applies equally here: students who leave without a degree face debt without the salary to service it.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $21,176 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $25,103 per year. Middle-income families in engineering and CS tracks are looking at a fast payback given the strong program-level earnings. For business and social science students, the 8.2-year payback at institutional median is workable but not exceptional.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $29,834 per year - $119,336 over four years. Penn State Harrisburg at full price is justified only for students in STEM and health programs with clear career plans.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,997 | B |
| Civil Engineering | $81,403 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $120,729 | B+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $93,277 | B |
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $96,714 | B |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
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
CS (47 graduates) earns $84,050 year one and $120,729 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.309 and $26,000 median debt. This is the strongest financial outcome at Penn State Harrisburg.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (54 graduates) earns $77,955 year one and $91,032 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.346 and $27,000 median debt. Year-one wages of $77,955 are strong for the central Pennsylvania market.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (47 graduates) earns $74,958 year one and $93,277 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.360 and $27,000 median debt. The central Pennsylvania defense and energy sector - including AES, Hershey Foods industrial operations, and federal agencies - creates consistent EE demand. The Penn State engineering credential is well-regarded in the regional market.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (38 graduates) earns $68,552 year one and $96,714 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.370 and $25,375 median debt. The Harrisburg state government and insurance industry hub provides placement for finance graduates.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (78 graduates) earns $69,772 year one and $87,997 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.387 and $27,000 median debt. This is the highest-volume engineering program at Penn State Harrisburg. Central Pennsylvania manufacturing and power generation sectors drive consistent ME demand. The Penn State name is the key differentiator for graduates seeking careers beyond the immediate Harrisburg market.
Psychology
Psychology (35 graduates) earns $32,408 year one and $49,543 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.833 and $27,000 median debt. Standard liberal arts psychology outcome at a price point that doesn't justify it for students not planning graduate school. The Penn State name helps somewhat in the market, but $32,408 year-one wages against $25,000 in debt create repayment pressure in the first few post-graduation years.
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 Harrisburg’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 | 97.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-31 |
| Enrollment | 4,031 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,107 |
Penn State Harrisburg admits 97.6% of applicants with SAT Math 570-660 and Reading 550-650, ACT 22-31. Despite the near-universal admission rate, the SAT and ACT ranges are respectable - indicating that students who apply are academically prepared but the campus serves an older, part-time demographic that contributes to the low completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg (this school) | 59 | $23,330 | $63,435 |
| Salem State University | 58 | $15,996 | $56,662 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
The average age profile skews older than traditional campuses. The Penn State name carries real weight in Pennsylvania government and federal contracting markets. Students who are traditional-age, full-time, and want the full college experience will find Harrisburg limiting. The 26.1% completion rate is a serious concern for any enrolled student's planning.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $23,330 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 8.2 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 26.1% 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 Harrisburg: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,330 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, so it takes about 8.2 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 Harrisburg 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 $23,330 a year, or roughly $93,320 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 Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg?
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 8.2 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg?
The six-year graduation rate is 26.1%. 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.