York College of Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 73.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
York College of Pennsylvania earns a Fair Value ROI score of 68. The school's standout numbers are its 8.2-year payback period and a strong 84.5% three-year loan repayment rate, both signals that graduates land jobs that service their debt. Earnings climb from $40,100 at six years post-entry to $61,012 by year ten, a healthy trajectory for a regional private nonprofit. The completion rate is 64.1%. The drag on the overall score is debt-to-earnings: $26,000 in median debt against $40,100 in six-year earnings yields a 0.648 ratio (40 sub-score), meaning early-career grads carry meaningful loan burden relative to income. In-state and out-of-state sticker tuition is identical at $25,588, with net price after aid landing at $18,556 (a $74,224 four-year sticker total). York's earnings premium of 35% above high-school-only workers is real, but the debt math is what prevents this from being a Strong Value school. For families willing to lean into engineering, nursing, or computer science programs, the ROI math improves significantly.
York College of Pennsylvania
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $25,588/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,588/yr |
| Average net price | $18,556/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,224 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,012 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,265 |
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: $25,588/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,556/year, or roughly $74,224 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 $12,927/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,196/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,100) 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 | $12,927 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,581 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,024 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,799 |
| $110,001+ | $22,196 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $12,927 at York, the lowest bracket. That's roughly half of sticker tuition and reflects need-based aid working as intended. Over four years, that's about $51,700 of investment against a $40,100 six-year average earnings projection. The math is tight, and it improves if the student lands in a higher-earning program. Pell-eligible students should also stack federal and state grants on top.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 income band pays $17,024 net per year, or roughly $68,100 across four years. For a household at this income level, that's a significant lift even with aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households earning $110,001+ pay $22,196 net, which approaches the $25,588 sticker rate. Across four years, that's $88,800 of out-of-pocket investment. The earnings premium and 8.2-year payback period justify the spend only if the family is debt-averse and the student commits to a high-ROI program.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at York College of Pennsylvania with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,052 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,548 | C+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,995 | B |
| Biology | $67,444 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,918 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,275 | C |
| Psychology | $53,927 | D |
| Teacher Education | $49,654 | C |
| Accounting | $67,405 | C+ |
| Marketing | $69,407 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is York's deepest and best-performing program, with 147 graduates and $77,469 in first-year median earnings climbing to $91,052 by year four. At $27,000 median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio sits at 0.349 with a B+ ROI grade. This is a textbook strong-ROI path: the program funnels into a state-tested credential with national demand. Pennsylvania's healthcare-employer concentration in Philadelphia and Baltimore corridors gives York grads a clear hiring runway.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering at York produces 40 grads per year with $74,445 first-year earnings, hitting $89,995 by year four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.363 earns a B grade. The York program benefits from the Mid-Atlantic manufacturing and defense corridor (Baltimore, DC, Philly, Pittsburgh), where mid-career mechanical engineers reliably break six figures. A strong choice for cost-conscious engineering applicants who can't get into more selective programs.
Computer Science
CS at York is small (17 graduates) but performs well: $67,310 first-year earnings and $100,044 by year four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.401 yields a B grade. The four-year jump from $67K to $100K reflects how CS career compounding works once grads gain experience. Smaller cohort means less brand recognition with tech employers than larger CS programs, but York grads who land regional roles see solid trajectories.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin is the largest non-nursing program with 47 grads, earning $54,054 first-year and $69,548 by year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.488 yields a C+ grade. The earnings are decent but not exceptional for an undergrad business degree; the $69,548 four-year figure suggests most grads land in regional middle-management or operations roles rather than higher-paying consulting or finance tracks.
Psychology
Psychology at York shows the cautionary pattern: $37,203 first-year earnings against $27,000 debt drives a 0.726 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. Four-year earnings only climb to $53,927, indicating most grads either need a master's to reach professional psych roles or end up in unrelated mid-wage work. Applicants drawn to psych should plan for graduate school and run that combined cost out before committing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How York College of Pennsylvania’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 | 73.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-28 |
| Enrollment | 3,265 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,539 |
York College of Pennsylvania admits 73.7% of applicants, placing it in the moderately selective range. Mid-50% SAT scores run 500-630 math and 520-640 reading; ACT mid-range is 21-28. Prepared students at or above the 75th percentile typically complete on time, helping explain the 64% institution-wide completion rate. Selectivity here filters for college-ready students without screening out first-generation applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| York College of Pennsylvania (this school) | 68 | $18,556 | $61,012 |
| University of La Verne | 70 | $20,161 | $65,464 |
| Elmhurst University | 68 | $24,185 | $61,462 |
| Calvin University | 65 | $22,992 | $58,375 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate is moderate at 28.1%, suggesting a mostly middle-income student body rather than a need-heavy one. The school works best for students pointed at engineering, nursing, allied health, or computer science where program-level earnings push past $90,000 by year four. Liberal arts majors should run the numbers more carefully: history, psychology, and communication grads at York show debt-to-earnings ratios above 0.7. Pennsylvania residents and Mid-Atlantic students dominate the geographic draw.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
York College of Pennsylvania is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,556 a year after aid ($74,224 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,012 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 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, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,100 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.
York College of Pennsylvania: Common Questions
Is York College of Pennsylvania worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether York College of Pennsylvania is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,556 a year after aid ($74,224 over four years) against $61,012 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does York College of Pennsylvania 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 $18,556 a year, or roughly $74,224 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 York College of Pennsylvania graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,012 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,212 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 York College of Pennsylvania?
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 8.2 years for York College of Pennsylvania. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do York College of Pennsylvania graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $40,100 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 York College of Pennsylvania?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.