Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 81.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Susquehanna University is a private nonprofit liberal arts school in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, with about 2,163 undergraduates. Sticker tuition is $59,850, but average net price falls to $28,819. The lowest-income students pay as little as $18,493. An 82% completion rate and a 87% repayment rate are genuine strengths, and ten-year median earnings of $61,723 show long-term potential. Still, Susquehanna earns only a Fair Value ROI score of 61 due to a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 9.6-year payback period at median earnings. Program outcomes are sharply bifurcated: business and accounting graduates perform well, while creative and humanities programs post some of the weakest ROI grades in the dataset. The institution's required global experience component and co-curricular design are differentiators for students who will leverage networking and internships to offset a mixed earnings profile.
Susquehanna University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $59,850/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $59,850/yr |
| Average net price | $28,819/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $115,276 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,723 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 81.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,163 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Susquehanna University is $59,850/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $28,819/year, or roughly $115,276 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,757/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,866/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $61,723 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.67 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $19,757 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,493 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,171 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,190 |
| $110,001+ | $33,866 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $19,757 net, and the $30,001–$48,000 band pays $18,493 — SU's best aid tier. With $27,000 median debt and earnings of $40,200 at six years, the investment requires a job-intensive major. The 82% completion rate is an asset: students who start in strong-ROI programs and stay enrolled can reach manageable outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001–$75,000 band pays $21,171. Combined with $27,000 in median debt and the institution's 9.6-year payback period, middle-income families face meaningful financial stretch. Choosing accounting, finance, or neuroscience rather than psychology, theatre, or publishing materially changes the ROI calculation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $75,000 pay $24,190–$33,866 — increasingly competitive with Pennsylvania's PASSHE system. Higher-income students choosing SU should have a concrete major strategy and use the network and internship infrastructure that SU's career office provides.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Susquehanna University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $47,367 | D |
| Biology | $55,271 | D |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $40,989 | F |
| Finance and Financial Management | $79,899 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,304 | C+ |
| Marketing | $82,070 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $61,423 | D |
| Teacher Education | $51,105 | C |
| Publishing | $17,585 | F |
| Accounting | $92,279 | B |
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.
Accounting
Accounting is Susquehanna's standout program with 25 graduates earning $65,209 in year one and $92,279 by year four against $27,000 median debt, yielding a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. For students interested in public accounting or corporate finance, SU's accounting track delivers returns that justify the net price.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance generates 32 graduates earning $57,855 initially and $79,899 at four years. At a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, it earns C+. The early-career trajectory is solid and SU's proximity to Pennsylvania's financial corridor supports recruiting. Students should track internship outcomes closely to make the most of this major.
Psychology
Psychology is SU's largest reported program at 55 graduates but earns a D ROI grade: first-year earnings of $28,186, $27,000 in debt, and a 0.96 debt-to-earnings ratio. Many psychology graduates intend graduate school, where these early earnings may be a temporary floor, but students without a clear post-graduate plan face real financial pressure in the near term.
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Neuroscience graduates 10 students with four-year earnings of $63,729 and a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B. This pre-professional pipeline is SU's science program with the strongest post-graduation outcome, likely reflecting high medical and graduate school placement rates among its small cohort.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 81.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,163 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,249 |
Susquehanna accepts about 81% of applicants — broadly accessible. Middle 50% SAT runs 540–660 reading, 540–640 math; ACT composite 21–29. The school offers merit scholarships independent of need. Students who aren't entering a strong-ROI major should think carefully about the $28,819 net price relative to a comparable Pennsylvania public.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Relative to Lewis and Clark College and North Central College, Susquehanna's completion rate of 82% is a strength. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 is higher than desirable for a school at its price point, and several programs post ratios above 1.0 — a red flag absent from better-value peers. Students comparing Susquehanna to John Carroll University or North Central College will find broadly similar ROI profiles with some variation at the program level.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna University (this school) | 61 | $28,819 | $61,723 |
| North Central College | 63 | $21,044 | $60,123 |
| John Carroll University | 61 | $28,746 | $62,860 |
| Lewis & Clark College | 61 | $36,013 | $62,205 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Susquehanna is best suited to students who thrive in residential liberal arts settings and have clear intent to pursue business, finance, or pre-professional tracks. The 82% completion rate suggests strong student support systems. Students in arts, writing, publishing, or theatre should be honest about the data: debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0 are documented in several of those fields at SU, meaning graduates may spend years earning less than their annual debt payment.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Susquehanna University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $28,819 per year leads to $115,276 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $61,723 a decade out. The payback period of 9.6 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include a 81.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $61,723 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.