Peru State College
Peru, Nebraska · Public
ROI Score: 41/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Peru State College earns an overall ROI score of 41/100, placing it in the Below Benchmark band on CampusROI's framework. Tuition runs $8,640 with an average net price of $11,632 after aid. Average earnings six years after entry land at $33,800, climbing to a median of roughly $47,071 by year ten, producing a payback period of about 15.5 years. Median federal debt of $21,875 works out to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65, which is tight. Completion is the headline weakness at 37.6% of degree-seeking students finishing within 150% of normal time. Note that net price ($11,632) actually exceeds in-state tuition ($8,640), which suggests fees, room and board, and limited grant aid are pushing the all-in cost above the headline tuition number. The component scores break down as earnings premium 57/100, completion 18/100, payback 37/100, debt-to-earnings 40/100, repayment 41/100. The lowest sub-score is completion rate at 18/100, which is the main weight pulling the overall number down; the strongest sub-score is earnings premium over a high-school baseline at 57/100. Data points here come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (2024-2025 vintage), and Scorecard earnings carry a 6-10 year reporting lag, so the figures describe recent graduating cohorts rather than this year's incoming class.
How Peru State College 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.
- ROI Score41/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate37.6% - 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.
- Payback period15.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Peru State College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,640/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $8,640/yr |
| Average net price | $11,632/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $46,528 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,071 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,875 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $232 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,092 |
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: $8,640/year, 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 $11,632/year, or roughly $46,528 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 $9,986/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,450/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,875, which works out to about $232 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,800) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $9,986 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,779 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,845 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,313 |
| $110,001+ | $13,450 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $9,986 per year here. With expected earnings around $47,071 a decade out, that's a workable number - Pell, state grants, and any institutional aid are doing real work to make it accessible, but families should still model debt carefully across four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) face a net price of about $12,845 per year. These households typically get less Pell support and partial institutional aid, so the tuition bill is more directly felt. Whether the math works depends on the major: programs with stronger early earnings can absorb this cost; lower-paying majors will produce a longer payback period. Note: the income-bracket data shows inversions where the 0-30k bracket pays more than the 30-48k bracket and the 48-75k bracket pays more than the 75-110k bracket - that's unusual and likely reflects small-sample noise or aid policy quirks; treat the brackets as approximate.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families in the $110,000+ bracket pay an average of $13,450 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Peru State College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,519 | C |
| Psychology | $45,096 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,150 | D |
| Teacher Education | $44,850 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $64,278 | - |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration, Management, and Operations (CIP 5202) graduates 96 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $42,847 and four-year earnings of $57,519. Median program debt is $25,815 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C. Business and management is the workhorse major here; outcomes track closely with the student's region and willingness to relocate for opportunity.
Psychology
Psychology (CIP 4201) graduates 33 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $32,542 and four-year earnings of $45,096. Median program debt is $25,716 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, which is heavy. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D. Psychology bachelor's-level outcomes are weak unless paired with graduate study; the debt-to-earnings ratio here reflects that reality.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections (CIP 4301) graduates 32 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $38,953 and four-year earnings of $50,150. Median program debt is $27,367 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D. Criminal justice leads to law enforcement and corrections roles with capped wage ladders; check whether local employers are hiring before assuming the regional ROI.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (CIP 1312) graduates 20 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $37,072 and four-year earnings of $44,850. Median program debt is $26,117 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D. Teacher education leads to relatively low-volatility employment but capped wages, so debt management matters more than at higher-earning majors.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (CIP 1101) graduates 11 students per year. Reported median four-year earnings of $64,278.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Peru State 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
| Enrollment | 1,092 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,181 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data for this institution. Without a public admit rate it's hard to characterize selectivity directly. What we can read off the outcomes side is the completion rate of 37.6%, which is the closest proxy: schools that admit prepared, well-matched students typically see noticeably higher completion than schools that take a wider range. Prospective applicants should treat admission as effectively open or contact the registrar for current selectivity data before assuming the school is a safety.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru State College (this school) | 41 | $11,632 | $47,071 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | 55 | $16,242 | $50,105 |
| Chadron State College | 50 | $12,549 | $47,002 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | 48 | $9,210 | $45,325 |
| Northern State University | 41 | $15,812 | $47,618 |
| University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | 37 | $6,624 | $41,913 |
Who Thrives Here
Strong fit profile is a focused, locally-rooted student who has a clear major in mind and needs the in-state pricing and small-campus scale to make the math work. Be honest about completion: at this rate, a meaningful share of students who enroll do not finish, and incomplete degrees produce the worst ROI of any path. Median earnings ten years out of $47,071 should be the honest yardstick for whether the price the family will actually pay (see the income-bracket breakdown below) leads to a workable post-graduation budget.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Peru State College scores 41/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $11,632 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,071 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 37.6% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,875 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Peru State College: Common Questions
Is Peru State College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Peru State College scores 41/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $11,632 a year after aid against $47,071 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Peru State 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 $11,632 a year, or roughly $46,528 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 Peru State College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,071 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,271 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 Peru State 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 15.5 years for Peru State College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Peru State College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,875, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Peru State College?
The six-year graduation rate is 37.6%. 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.