Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Dunmore, Pennsylvania · Public · 98.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Scranton earns a Fair Value ROI score of 66, anchored by reasonable graduate earnings and a manageable payback period but pulled down sharply by a low completion rate. Median earnings reach $43,600 six years after entry and $63,435 at the 10-year mark, allowing graduates to pay off the typical $25,000 in debt in roughly 7.4 years. Net price sits at $17,910 against in-state tuition of $15,208, with a four-year sticker total near $71,640. The biggest weakness is completion: only 39.3% of students finish, which is the score's biggest drag (subscore 20). Debt-to-earnings runs at 0.573, meaning typical loan balances exceed half of annual earnings. The earnings premium above a high-school baseline is solid (subscore 82), and repayment performance is decent at 79.3%. Net price is fairly heavy for a regional Penn State campus, and the low graduation rate means a sizable share of borrowers leave with debt but no degree. For students who actually finish, the math works out reasonably well; for the 60% who don't, this profile turns risky.
The data raises concerns about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate39.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,208/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,392/yr |
| Average net price | $17,910/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $71,640 |
| 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 | 7.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 793 |
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). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,910/year, or roughly $71,640 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 $14,322/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,599/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,435 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.57, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $14,322 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,857 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,839 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,064 |
| $110,001+ | $23,599 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $14,322, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays slightly less at $12,857 - a mild inversion worth flagging. Both brackets still face roughly $51,000-$57,000 across four years, which is heavy relative to typical post-grad earnings. Pell-eligible students should explore University Park transfer paths and community-college bridges that can lower the borrowing requirement.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $14,839, and $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $22,064 - a steep $7,200 step. Middle-income families absorb the highest marginal aid cliff at this campus, paying close to sticker. Four-year cost lands around $59,000-$88,000 depending on bracket. Math-strong nursing or engineering tracks make the borrowing defensible; liberal-arts pathways at this price are a much harder ROI sell.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,599 net annually, accumulating roughly $94,000 across four years - well over the $71,640 published total cost figure due to indirect expenses. With median 10-year earnings of $63,435, full-pay families should evaluate whether Penn State University Park, a peer flagship, or out-of-state public alternatives offer materially better completion rates and earnings for the same outlay.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| 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 |
| Biology | $64,910 | D |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,997 | B |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $50,299 | 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
Nursing is the strongest ROI program on campus, earning a B+ grade. Graduates earn a median of $77,955 one year after completion and $91,032 by year four, with $27,000 in median debt - a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.346. Pennsylvania's healthcare labor market in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region sustains strong demand. With 33 graduates annually, this is also one of the larger programs by completion volume, making it a reliable pathway.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering posts a B grade with $69,772 first-year earnings rising to $87,997 by year four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.387 keeps the math comfortable. Graduate counts are tiny at 8 per year, suggesting a small program that may rely on University Park transfers, but completers see strong industrial and manufacturing employer demand across northeast PA and the broader I-81 corridor.
Information Science
Information Science earns a B grade with $66,209 first-year earnings climbing to $91,671 by year four - a substantial four-year growth curve. Debt of $26,000 against those earnings yields a 0.393 ratio. Career paths span IT operations, systems analysis, and entry-level data work. With 14 graduates annually, this is a viable mid-sized track for students with technical aptitude.
Business Administration and Management
Business administration is the largest non-nursing program by graduates (32) but earns only a C grade. First-year earnings of $45,110 rise modestly to $65,292 by year four, and the 0.599 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers carry meaningful pressure post-graduation. The program functions as a generalist credential; differentiated outcomes typically require strong internships or transfer to University Park's Smeal College.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 18 students annually but earns a D grade. First-year earnings of $32,408 against $27,000 in debt produce an 0.833 debt-to-earnings ratio - functionally underwater for a bachelor's-only credential. Graduate-level study is essentially required to translate the major into livable earnings, which doubles the borrowing burden. Students considering this path should plan for a master's track from day one.
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
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 98.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-650 |
| Enrollment | 793 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,774 |
Penn State Scranton is essentially open-access, with an admission rate of 98.5%. SAT mid-ranges sit at 540-620 math and 560-650 reading, indicating a typical-performing applicant pool rather than a competitive one. Open admissions correlates strongly with the 39.3% completion rate; students enter with widely varying preparation, and academic readiness is the dominant predictor of whether borrowed money turns into a finished credential here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Miami University-Middletown, Valley City State University, and Ohio State-Lima. Within this set, Penn State Scranton's 7.4-year payback and $63,435 ten-year earnings sit toward the upper-middle of regional public branch campuses. East Stroudsburg and Ohio State-Lima offer comparable Pennsylvania/Ohio public-sector ROI profiles, while Cheyney generally posts weaker outcomes. The Penn State brand provides modest signaling value over standalone regional publics, particularly for students transitioning to University Park.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (this school) | 66 | $17,910 | $63,435 |
| Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 68 | $12,940 | $60,409 |
| Valley City State University | 67 | $11,890 | $52,725 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 63 | $10,809 | $55,076 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is small at 793 students, and Pell Grant recipients make up 41.8% of the body, indicating a meaningfully working-class student profile. The school fits commuter-track students from northeastern Pennsylvania who want a Penn State credential at branch-campus prices, particularly those targeting nursing (the standout B+ ROI program) or engineering. Outcomes are strongest for students who enter prepared in math and stay through completion. Students unsure about persistence should weigh the 39.3% completion rate carefully before borrowing.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $17,910 a year after aid ($71,640 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.4 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 39.3% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 against $63,435 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.