Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
Hazleton, Pennsylvania · Public · 96.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Hazleton scores 64 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. This is a small Penn State branch campus in Hazleton, PA, with 501 enrolled students. In-state tuition is $15,208 and net price is $17,597 - a small premium over sticker that reflects the all-in cost including room, board, and fees. The 26.2% completion rate is the most significant weakness: fewer than one in three enrolled students earns a degree. This is the primary driver of the campus's low completion rate sub-score (8 out of 100). Average 6-year earnings of $43,600 and a 7.4-year payback period are moderate. Repayment rate of 79.3% at three years is acceptable. Business Administration (13 graduates, $45,110 year-one, ROI grade C) is the highest-volume reported program. Most program cohorts have 1-7 graduates, which means earnings figures are highly sensitive to individual variation. The Penn State brand provides credential value that a standalone Hazleton institution would not offer, but the 26.2% completion rate raises serious questions about academic preparation and support at this campus. Median debt of $25,000 and a 0.573 debt-to-earnings ratio are consistent with the moderate-earnings profile.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton 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 rate26.2% - 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 Hazleton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,208/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,392/yr |
| Average net price | $17,597/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $70,388 |
| 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 | 7.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 26.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 501 |
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: $15,208/year ($25,392/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 $17,597/year, or roughly $70,388 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 $11,770/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,218/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 | $11,770 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,756 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,902 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,777 |
| $110,001+ | $23,218 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $11,770 per year. Four years at $11,770 totals $47,080. Against average 6-year earnings of $43,600, the financial case is marginal - the 26.2% completion rate means most students at this bracket will not reach the earnings figure. For the minority who complete, the Penn State credential at $11,770 annually is reasonable value. The primary risk for low-income students is accumulating $25,000 in median debt without a degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,902 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,777. The 26.2% completion rate remains the central concern.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $23,218 per year, totaling approximately $92,872 over four years. At this price with a 26.2% completion rate and limited program offerings, the financial case weakens.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,635 | D |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 | D |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Engineering, General | $88,063 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| Human Resources Management | $81,755 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $75,396 | 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.
Engineering, General
Engineering, General (4 graduates) earns $68,331 year-one and $88,063 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.395 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000 at $68k year-one is a 0.40 ratio - manageable. Four graduates is an extremely small cohort; outcomes are not statistically reliable at this volume. The earnings figures likely reflect students who transferred to University Park for upper-division engineering coursework and returned to Hazleton's Scorecard data through reporting pathways.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (13 graduates - the highest-volume reported program) earns $45,110 year-one and $65,292 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.599 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $27,000 at $45k year-one is a 0.60 ratio - tight in the first years. The four-year trajectory to $65,292 reflects the Penn State brand providing access to regional Pennsylvania employers. The C grade accurately reflects the earnings-to-debt relationship at this program.
Psychology
Psychology (5 graduates) earns $32,408 year-one and $49,543 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.833 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 at $32,408 year-one is an 83% debt-to-income ratio - a difficult starting position. Year-four recovery to $49,543 is slow relative to the debt load. The D grade reflects genuine financial stress for psychology graduates who do not pursue graduate training.
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 Hazleton’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 | 96.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-660 |
| Enrollment | 501 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,943 |
At 96.4%, Penn State Hazleton admits nearly all applicants. SAT 540-630 Math and 550-660 Reading describe a mid-range academic profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Fair Value designation reflects that program-level earnings (when students complete) are solid given the low net price, but the completion rate substantially reduces the expected value of enrollment.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton (this school) | 64 | $17,597 | $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-Zanesville Campus | 60 | $5,746 | $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 Hazleton admits 96.4% of applicants with SAT ranges of 540-630 Math and 550-660 Reading; ACT ranges are not reported. It has 501 enrolled. The Pell grant rate of 42.8% indicates significant financial need. Penn State Hazleton primarily serves students from northeastern Pennsylvania who want the Penn State credential without relocating to University Park. The 26.2% completion rate suggests that a majority of students who enroll do not complete their degree at this location.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $17,597 a year after aid ($70,388 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.4 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 26.2% 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 Hazleton: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,597 a year after aid ($70,388 over four years) against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.4 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 Hazleton 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 $17,597 a year, or roughly $70,388 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 Hazleton 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 Hazleton?
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 7.4 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton 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 Hazleton?
The six-year graduation rate is 26.2%. 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.