Erie, Pennsylvania Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)

Last updated: June 4, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

TL;DR

EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Erie, Pennsylvania shows: median public in-state tuition $20,645 (+274.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $58,845 (+8.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,500 (+37.7% vs U.S.) 8,356 students enrolled statewide.

Key Facts

  • Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
  • Total college enrollment: 8,356 students
  • Median public in-state tuition: $20,645 (+274.6% vs U.S.)
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry: $58,845 (+8.3% vs U.S.)
  • Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.2% (-0.7 pp vs U.S.)
  • Median net price: $22,553 (+126.3% vs U.S.)
  • Median student debt at graduation: $18,500 (+37.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,000
  • Average completion rate (institutions in state): 60.2%
  • Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 79.8%

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Overview

EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Pennsylvania and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Erie vs Pennsylvania & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Erie, Pennsylvania$20,645$22,553$18,50060.2%8,356
Pennsylvania (state median)$11,486$17,754$17,50057.9%469,126
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370

Earnings & employment outcomes: Erie, 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.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
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
Erie, Pennsylvania$58,84587.2%79.8%6.4%—79.3%0.46
Pennsylvania (state median)$62,10187.2%78.6%4.5%—79.3%0.43
United States$54,32387.9%76.3%5.0%—73.7%0.41

Other cities in Pennsylvania (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Erie, Pennsylvania$20,645$22,553$18,50060.2%8,356$58,84587.2%
Philadelphia$26,255$25,437$18,76559.3%75,415$65,57285.8%
Pittsburgh$18,463$25,509$15,66763.1%51,847$52,41090.2%
Bethlehem$36,006$27,006$15,49579.8%16,100$83,72281.4%
Harrisburg$20,645$14,924$18,58333.9%10,347$52,37486.9%
Reading$15,972$22,190$20,88550.7%9,432$58,70088.3%
Media$15,029$12,213$16,50023.5%9,216$63,43587.2%
Scranton$18,400$21,354$18,07575.7%8,482$65,23480.9%
Lancaster$31,070$20,407$18,25068.6%7,065$44,09678.9%
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370$54,32387.9%

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 66.4%, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 60.2%, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 43.6%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.8%, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 82.4%, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 most selective colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Admission Rate, 74.2%, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Admission Rate, 81.0%, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Admission Rate, 96.8%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,446, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $65,796, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $64,519, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $112,269, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $93,419, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $86,597, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,620, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,319, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,565, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,370, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $55,227, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,273, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,435, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,845, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,452, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $184,568, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $165,670, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $84,756, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 most affordable colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Net Price, $19,444, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, Net Price, $24,558, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, Net Price, $22,553, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

Top 10 colleges in Erie, 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.

  1. Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 83.2%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

    Public · 3,240 enrolled · Erie

  2. Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 79.8%, Mercyhurst University

    Mercyhurst University

    Private nonprofit · 2,191 enrolled · Erie

  3. Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 76.2%, Gannon University

    Gannon University

    Private nonprofit · 2,365 enrolled · Erie

In-state tuition: Erie, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Erie, Pennsylvania median in-state tuition is $20,645, +274.6% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Erie, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Erie, Pennsylvania is $18,500 (+37.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,000.

Median earnings (10 years out): Erie, Pennsylvania vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania center around $58,845 (+8.3% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Erie, 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 Erie, Pennsylvania campus (-0.7 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

Erie, Pennsylvania median public in-state tuition is $20,645, about +274.6% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +179.7%.

Median graduate debt is $18,500 (+37.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Erie, Pennsylvania are $58,845, about +8.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).

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 87.9% (-0.7 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 79.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—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 Gannon University (89.8%), Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (87.2%), Mercyhurst University (82.4%)—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 Erie, Pennsylvania is 60.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).

FAQ

How many colleges are in Erie?

EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Erie?

EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Erie is $20,645 and median net price is $22,553. For Pennsylvania overall, medians are $11,486 and $17,754; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.

What do graduates earn in Erie?

EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Erie is $58,845 vs $62,101 for Pennsylvania and $54,323 nationally.

What is student debt like for Erie colleges?

EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Erie is $18,500 vs $17,500 for Pennsylvania and $13,432 nationally.

What are the best colleges in Erie?

EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Gannon University (graduation) and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Erie?

EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2).

Sources & related