University Park, Pennsylvania Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania: median public in-state tuition $18,000 (+226.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $63,435 (+16.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $25,000 (+88.4% vs U.S.) 50,161 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 50,161 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $18,000 (+226.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $63,435 (+16.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.2% (-0.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $26,212 (+162.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $25,000 (+88.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 60.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 79.2%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in University Park serve students across Pennsylvania with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 50,161 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $18,000. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against University Park, Pennsylvania and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
University Park vs Pennsylvania & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Park, Pennsylvania | $18,000 | $26,212 | $25,000 | 60.1% | 50,161 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $11,486 | $17,754 | $17,500 | 58.0% | 468,960 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: University Park, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Park, Pennsylvania | $63,435 | 87.2% | 79.2% | 6.4% | — | 79.3% | 0.39 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $62,105 | 87.2% | 79.0% | 4.5% | — | 79.3% | 0.43 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Park, Pennsylvania | $18,000 | $26,212 | $25,000 | 60.1% | 50,161 | $63,435 | 87.2% |
| Philadelphia | $23,011 | $24,125 | $20,000 | 57.6% | 76,296 | $63,727 | 85.5% |
| Pittsburgh | $19,664 | $25,855 | $15,208 | 63.1% | 51,829 | $52,410 | 90.2% |
| Bethlehem | $53,500 | $28,869 | $16,289 | 79.8% | 16,057 | $83,722 | 81.4% |
| Harrisburg | $20,645 | $14,924 | $18,583 | 33.9% | 10,347 | $52,374 | 86.9% |
| Reading | $15,972 | $22,190 | $20,885 | 50.7% | 9,432 | $58,700 | 88.3% |
| Media | $15,029 | $12,213 | $16,500 | 23.5% | 9,216 | $63,435 | 87.2% |
| Scranton | $18,400 | $21,354 | $18,075 | 75.7% | 8,482 | $65,234 | 80.9% |
| Erie | $20,645 | $22,553 | $18,500 | 60.2% | 8,356 | $58,845 | 87.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 86.1%, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 34.2%, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 most selective colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 60.6%, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 91.1%, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,795, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,446, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $120,729, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $112,269, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,620, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,620, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,370, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,370, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,435, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,435, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $201,572, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $134,948, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Top 2 most affordable colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,550, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
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Rank 2, Net Price, $32,875, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Top 2 colleges in University Park, Pennsylvania by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 92.6%, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 65.8%, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
In-state tuition: University Park, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Sticker price
University Park, Pennsylvania median in-state tuition is $18,000, +226.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: University Park, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in University Park, Pennsylvania is $25,000 (+88.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): University Park, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in University Park, Pennsylvania center around $63,435 (+16.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: University Park, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.2% at the median University Park, Pennsylvania campus (-0.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
University Park, Pennsylvania median public in-state tuition is $18,000, about +226.6% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +143.8%.
Median graduate debt is $25,000 (+88.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in University Park, Pennsylvania are $63,435, about +16.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-0.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 79.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 79.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (87.2%), Pennsylvania State University-World Campus (87.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in University Park, Pennsylvania is 60.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in University Park?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in University Park, Pennsylvania with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in University Park?
Median in-state tuition in University Park is $18,000 and median net price is $26,212. For Pennsylvania overall, medians are $11,486 and $17,754; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in University Park?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in University Park is $63,435 vs $62,105 for Pennsylvania and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for University Park colleges?
Median completer debt in University Park is $25,000 vs $17,500 for Pennsylvania and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in University Park?
Top campuses on this page include Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (graduation) and Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in University Park?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in University Park, Pennsylvania, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Pennsylvania college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON