Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon, PA 16146-1537
About Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is a public four-year university in Sharon, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 256 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 92.20% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $71,762 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 30% below.
- Average net price runs below the Pennsylvania median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 30.77%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $71,762.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1561% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | $14,052 | $10,802 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,700 | — | 1,692 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,975 | $13,558 | 183 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,824 | $15,745 | 1,516 |
| United States (national median) | $12,200 | $17,569 | — |
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 23% below published tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Key findings
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango's average net price ($10,802) is 23% below published tuition ($14,052).
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($14,052).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 30% below.
- Average net price runs below the Pennsylvania median net price.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $14,052
Finding Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $14,052. That is about 2.5× the national public median ($5,700). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,975), sticker tuition is 30% below. Versus the U.S. median ($12,200), sticker is 15% 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 public 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is $10,802.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $10,802 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $2,756 below the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,943 below 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 23% lower after grants and scholarships.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango—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
In-state tuition
$14,052
Out-of-state tuition
$23,820
Avg. net price
$10,802
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $5,166 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,984 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,286 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,949 |
| $110,001+ | $16,652 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $56,208. 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is known for
Top program completions
- Physical Therapy Assistant10
- Occupational Therapist Assistant9
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other5
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration4
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse4
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 38% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango.
Campus
Location
Sharon, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 16146-1537
- NCES locale
- Town fringe
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 31% below the median for Town campuses ($15,745 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Mid East
Size
Enrollment
256
Undergraduates (fall)
- Undergraduates (full year)
- 340
- Full-time share
- 80%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 45.95%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango.
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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango 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 | $13,318 | $19,874 | $14,244 |
| 2014 | $13,332 | $19,888 | $14,885 |
| 2015 | $13,354 | $19,910 | $13,447 |
| 2016 | $13,296 | $20,042 | $13,558 |
| 2017 | $13,324 | $20,810 | $16,905 |
| 2018 | $13,342 | $21,366 | $13,983 |
| 2019 | $13,350 | $21,774 | — |
| 2022 | $13,962 | $23,044 | $16,588 |
| 2023 | $14,002 | $23,310 | $14,259 |
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 has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified 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
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango reported total enrollment of about 256 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (77.3%), Black or African American (11.3%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.1%). About 45.95% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 28.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango in 2024 is 256 students.
Over a full year, about 340 undergraduates enroll.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
65.8%
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
21.43% 100% Completion Time
30.77% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 21.43% of students graduating from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Physical Therapy Assistant: 0% male / 100% female
- Occupational Therapist Assistant: 11% male / 89% female
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other: 40% male / 60% 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.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango graduates earn a median of $71,762 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $71,762. Median federal loan debt: $24,500. Average net price used in cost models: $10,802.
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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango graduates report median earnings of $71,762 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (14 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 53.2%
- Pennsylvania median 9.9 pp below median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 3.7 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 4.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,036
- Pennsylvania median 1.1× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 1.1× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,344
- Pennsylvania median 0.74× the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 0.69× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 0.87× 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.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango at a glance
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is a public institution in Sharon, PA.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Physical Therapy AssistantOccupational Therapist AssistantRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian77.3%Black or African American11.3%Hispanic or Latino5.1%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Other campuses in Sharon, 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango located?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is located in Sharon, PA.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is 92.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 209 applicants and 190 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango's tuition?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $14,052 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $10,802 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango cost?
Reported tuition is $14,052 and average net price is $10,802 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,276 annually.
Why is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango, published tuition is $14,052 while average net price is $10,802—about 23% 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($10,802), completion (30.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($71,762). 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango reports undergraduate enrollment of about 340 students, White (77.3%), Black or African American (11.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango?
About 28.8% of students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango earn?
Median earnings are $60,829 six years after entry and $71,762 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,500.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango public or private?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango is a public institution located in Sharon, 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.