Central Penn College
Summerdale, PA 17093-0309
About Central Penn College
Central Penn College is a private for-profit university in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 662 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 18.46% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $45,370 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Central Penn College charges 19% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($19,854).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 2% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 50.91%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $45,370.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Central Penn College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 498% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Penn College | $19,854 | $18,953 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 5% below published tuition at Central Penn College
Key findings
- Central Penn College's average net price ($18,953) is 5% below published tuition ($19,854).
- Central Penn College charges 19% above the national private for-profit median tuition ($19,854).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 2% above.
Central Penn College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $19,854
Finding Central Penn College charges 19% above the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $19,854. That is 19% above the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is 2% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 67% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Central Penn College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Central Penn College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Central Penn College is $18,953.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $18,953 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,200 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $253 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Central Penn College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 5% lower after grants and scholarships.
Central Penn College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Central Penn College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$19,854
Avg. net price
$18,953
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $15,859 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,164 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,011 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,973 |
| $110,001+ | $23,656 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $79,416. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Central Penn College is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General53
- Physical Therapy Assistant28
- Computer Science22
- Surgical Technology/Technologist19
- Legal Professions and Studies, Other16
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Highly selective — fewer than 3 in 10 applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 61% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Central Penn College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Central Penn College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Central Penn College.
Campus
Location
Summerdale, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 17093-0309
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 1% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
662
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,060
- Graduate
- 13
- Full-time share
- 20%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,194
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 49.01%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Central Penn College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Central Penn College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Central Penn College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $16,167 | $16,167 | $18,032 |
| 2014 | $16,659 | $16,659 | $18,539 |
| 2015 | $17,151 | $17,151 | $15,864 |
| 2016 | $17,646 | $17,646 | $18,738 |
| 2017 | $18,174 | $18,174 | $18,889 |
| 2018 | $18,714 | $18,714 | $17,936 |
| 2019 | $18,714 | $18,714 | $20,862 |
| 2020 | $18,714 | $18,714 | $19,065 |
| 2021 | $18,714 | $18,714 | $16,605 |
| 2022 | $19,404 | $19,404 | $12,481 |
| 2023 | $19,404 | $19,404 | $19,279 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Central Penn College reported total enrollment of about 662 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 34% male and 66% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (55.1%), Black or African American (18.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.5%). About 49.01% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
20.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Central Penn College in 2024 is 662 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,060 students. Graduate enrollment is about 13 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
38.71% 100% Completion Time
50.91% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 38.71% of students graduating from Central Penn College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 40% male / 60% female
- Physical Therapy Assistant: 25% male / 75% female
- Computer Science: 77% male / 23% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Central Penn College graduates earn a median of $45,370 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Central Penn College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,370. Median federal loan debt: $23,194. Average net price used in cost models: $18,953.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Central Penn College graduates report median earnings of $45,370 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Central Penn College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Central Penn College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Central Penn College graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Central Penn College—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.0%
- Pennsylvania median 23.1 pp below median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 16.9 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 17.9 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,380
- Pennsylvania median 0.67× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 0.66× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 0.71× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,554
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 0.93× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Central Penn College at a glance
Central Penn College
Central Penn College is a private for-profit institution in Summerdale, PA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralPhysical Therapy AssistantComputer Science
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian55.1%Black or African American18.0%Hispanic or Latino9.5%
Schools near Central Penn College
Other campuses in Summerdale, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Central Penn College located?
Central Penn College is located in Summerdale, PA.
What is Central Penn College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Central Penn College is 18.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 594 applicants and 154 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Central Penn College's tuition?
Central Penn College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $19,854 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $18,953 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Central Penn College cost?
Reported tuition is $19,854 and average net price is $18,953 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $7,581 annually.
Why is Central Penn College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Central Penn College, published tuition is $19,854 while average net price is $18,953—about 5% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Central Penn College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($18,953), completion (50.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($45,370). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Central Penn College?
Central Penn College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,060 students, White (55.1%), Black or African American (18.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Central Penn College?
About 50.6% of students at Central Penn College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Central Penn College earn?
Median earnings are $40,798 six years after entry and $45,370 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Central Penn College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 50.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Central Penn College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,194.
Is Central Penn College public or private?
Central Penn College is a private for-profit institution located in Summerdale, PA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.