Back to Colleges
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, PA 2,367 Undergrads 16.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,559
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,213
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,659
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$22,213
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$76,659
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate16.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
98.1%
SAT Avg
1,187
SAT Reading
25th: 530-75th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 540-75th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 22-75th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$657k
+$197k
+$180k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$577k
+$117k
+$100k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$540k
+$80k
+$63k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
37
125%
Full Cost$33k/yr
43
54%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return190%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-4%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,874
Nat: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$578k
Engineering, General
CertCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings
-
Nat: $79,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
CertCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,794
Nat: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
Associate's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,701
Earnings (4yr)
$61,596
Nat: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,654
Nat: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,997
Nat: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,218
Earnings (4yr)
$88,192
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,717
Earnings (4yr)
$64,910
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,593
Earnings (4yr)
$65,292
Nat: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,403
Nat: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,505
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$120,729
Nat: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,637
Nat: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Nat: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,105
Nat: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,835
Nat: $84,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,299
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,871
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,943
Nat: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,195
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$77,336
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,193
Nat: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,918
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$91,032
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,940
Earnings (4yr)
$67,399
Nat: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,362
Nat: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$24,225
Earnings (4yr)
$45,170
Nat: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.