Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Reading, PA · 29 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$2,216 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

9.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
+1%Modeled 10-year ROI
$72,964Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$2,216at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$277,4240
2
4
6
8
+$2,21610
Years after graduationBreak-even: 9.9 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$15,972
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$26,958
Sticker price
Average net price$24,356
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$32,242
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$24,356Average net price / year
$32,242Cost of attendance
$72,964Median earnings · year 5 after completion
31.5%Completion rate
98.7%Admission rate
1,872Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

92thEarnings percentile
13thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$54,468Year 1
$76,659Year 4
$72,964Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$120,7292Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$102,8743Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Bachelor's Degree$98,6374Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$93,5275Information Science/Studies · Bachelor's Degree$91,6716Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$88,1927Mechanical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$87,9978Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's Degree$81,835

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in PA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Erie, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Annual net price
$24,558
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+1%
Open college profile →
Middletown, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Annual net price
$23,330
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+2%
Open college profile →
Media, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine

Annual net price
$22,585
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+3%
Open college profile →
Altoona, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Annual net price
$22,213
Observed earnings · year 5
$72,964
Modeled 10-year ROI
+4%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$120,729$26,000
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$102,874$27,000
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementBachelor's Degree$98,637$26,917
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$93,527$30,125
Information Science/StudiesBachelor's Degree$91,671$26,000
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$88,192$26,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,997$27,000
Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$81,835$27,000
Management Information Systems and ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$81,794$27,000
Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree$81,755$27,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$77,336$26,178
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$75,919Not available
Biological and Physical SciencesBachelor's Degree$69,102$26,000
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$68,918$26,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$67,399$27,000
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherBachelor's Degree$66,866$26,500
Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree$65,292$27,000
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$64,910$26,000
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$63,798$24,500
Business/Commerce, GeneralAssociate's Degree$61,596$19,500
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$56,877$26,000
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$55,505$25,875
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$53,362$26,263
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$51,635$27,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,543$27,000
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesAssociate's Degree$46,356$18,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$44,913$27,000
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical SciencesBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,187
Engineering, GeneralUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaNot available$27,000

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.