Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 96.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 25/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Point Park University scores 25 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. The data is troubling: a 22.5-year payback period, $32,800 average 6-year earnings, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.823, and a repayment rate of only 63.8%. The school charges $39,570 in tuition and delivers an average net price of $25,942. Multiple programs earn F grades: Dance (71 graduates, debt-to-earnings 1.518), Radio/TV/Digital Communication (24 graduates, debt-to-earnings 1.545), Drama/Theatre Arts (54 graduates, debt-to-earnings 1.166), and Business General (35 graduates, debt-to-earnings 1.082). These programs have year-one earnings in the teens to low $20s against $27,000 in debt. Point Park is a performing arts-oriented private in downtown Pittsburgh, and the program mix reflects that identity. The 38.7% Pell grant rate indicates the school serves a high-need population. Admission rate is 96.9%, making this effectively open access. The 58.5% completion rate means more than 40% of students leave without a degree - and those who do leave still carry debt.
How Point Park University 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 Score25/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period22.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Point Park University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $39,570/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $39,570/yr |
| Average net price | $25,942/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $103,768 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,856 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 22.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,331 |
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: $39,570/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,942/year, or roughly $103,768 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 $22,436/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,813/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,800) and comes to 0.82, 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 | $22,436 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,064 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,362 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,325 |
| $110,001+ | $29,813 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $22,436 per year - nearly $90,000 over four years at a school with $32,800 average 6-year earnings. The 58.5% completion rate means a significant share of low-income students do not complete. For a school with a 96.9% admission rate and median earnings this low, the financial risk for low-income students is severe. This is not a school that solves access through value delivery.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $22,362 (48001-75000 bracket) to $27,325 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. The near-flat aid schedule across lower income bands is notable. Four-year costs of $89,000-$109,000 against $32,800 average earnings and a 22.5-year payback period mean a long time to recoup the cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $29,813 per year - about $119,000 over four years. The full-pay case at Point Park cannot be supported on the Scorecard data except for students with very specific professional plans (Pittsburgh-area media/film) and realistic expectations about entry-level earnings in their field. The overwhelming majority of programs here produce F or D grade ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Point Park University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Dance | $37,205 | F |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,121 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $41,751 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,332 | D |
| Business, General | $47,669 | F |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $49,951 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $47,830 | D |
| Teacher Education | $35,540 | - |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $55,545 | D |
| Accounting | $74,639 | - |
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 (40 graduates) earns $41,910 year-one and $53,332 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.737, median debt $30,899). The four-year figure of $53k is limited upside. Business is the best-ROI option at Point Park.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video (49 graduates) earns no reported year-one figure; four-year is $41,751 (C grade, debt-to-earnings 0.647, median debt $27,000). Year-one data is not available. For students committed to film production in Pittsburgh, this is the most financially defensible of the arts programs here.
Dance
Dance (71 graduates) earns $17,781 year-one and $37,205 at year four (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.518, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings of $17,781 cannot service $27,000 in debt. The F grade and 1.518 ratio are the figures to weigh for graduates of this program. Families considering this program should understand clearly that the credential does not produce income that matches the borrowing cost.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama (54 graduates) earns $23,147 year-one and $40,121 at year four (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.166, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings of $23k create immediate and substantial debt stress on $27,000 in loans. The F grade is accurate.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Point Park University’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 | 96.9% |
| Enrollment | 2,331 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,211 |
Point Park's 96.9% admission rate makes it open access. The absence of SAT/ACT data in the Scorecard is consistent with test-optional practices. For a school charging $39,570 in tuition with a near-universal acceptance rate, the value delivered must be program-specific. Prospective students should research their specific department's employment outcomes before treating admission as validation of the school's fit.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Park University (this school) | 25 | $25,942 | $45,856 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
| Charleston Southern University | 24 | $21,666 | $45,898 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | 24 | $20,473 | $47,327 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
Who Thrives Here
Point Park admits 96.9% of applicants with SAT and ACT data not reported by the Scorecard. Enrollment is 2,331. The very high Pell rate (38.7%) and open-access admission reflect a school serving students who may not have strong alternatives and who are drawn to Point Park's performing arts and media programs. The completion rate is 58.5% and the repayment rate is 63.8%. Students should carefully assess the financial implications of their specific program before enrolling.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Point Park University scores 25/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $25,942 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,856 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 22.5 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: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.8% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. 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.
Point Park University: Common Questions
Is Point Park University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Point Park University scores 25/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $25,942 a year after aid against $45,856 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 22.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Point Park University 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 $25,942 a year, or roughly $103,768 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 Point Park University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,856 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,056 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 Point Park University?
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 22.5 years for Point Park University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Point Park University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $32,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82. 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 Point Park University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.5%. 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.