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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA 4,031 Undergrads 40.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,521
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,330
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,659
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$23,330
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$76,659
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate40.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
97.6%
SAT Avg
1,227
SAT Reading
25th: 550-75th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 570-75th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 22-75th: 31
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$23k/yr
+$573k
+$113k
+$96k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$540k
+$80k
+$63k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$23k/yr
37
114%
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 Return191%
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
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
CertCIP: 5299
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,162
Nat: $79,067
Lifetime Value Added
+$380k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,445
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
+$577k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $31,135
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
+$376k
Associate's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,701
Earnings (4yr)
$61,596
Nat: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
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
+$41k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,218
Earnings (4yr)
$88,192
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (2yr)
$17,396
Nat: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
$25,601
Earnings (4yr)
$81,617
Nat: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$25,887
Earnings (4yr)
$69,102
Nat: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,717
Earnings (4yr)
$64,910
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,973
Earnings (4yr)
$72,218
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,403
Nat: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,505
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$120,729
Nat: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$26,471
Earnings (4yr)
$112,269
Nat: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,637
Nat: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,877
Nat: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,228
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,277
Nat: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,299
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,714
Nat: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,396
Nat: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,943
Nat: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,755
Nat: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,950
Earnings (4yr)
$91,671
Nat: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,195
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,308
Nat: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,947
Earnings (4yr)
$79,343
Nat: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,723
Earnings (4yr)
$87,997
Nat: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,918
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,543
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$76,246
Nat: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
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
+$195k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,197
Nat: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$26,940
Earnings (4yr)
$67,399
Nat: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
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
-$95k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,131
Nat: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Master's Degrees
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$44,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,114
Nat: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$166,387
Nat: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$963k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$23,151
Earnings (4yr)
$62,403
Nat: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
MastCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $123,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
MastCIP: 1414
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$44,873
Earnings (4yr)
$111,065
Nat: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$494k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$32,931
Earnings (4yr)
$106,535
Nat: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$455k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$103,541
Nat: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$429k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$33,905
Earnings (4yr)
$158,815
Nat: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$899k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$139,676
Nat: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$737k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$81,997
Nat: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,710
Nat: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$294k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,663
Nat: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Doctoral Degrees
Area Studies
DocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $69,249
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
DocCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $99,464
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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.