Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Worth It?
At a value score of 20/100, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $63,435 — 18% above average — while paying $17,418/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 21% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 96% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #15 of 19 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Maine at Fort Kent | 68 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| #2 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus | 68 | $3,925 | $52,581 |
| #3 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 45 | $5,746 | $52,581 |
| #4 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | 44 | $5,993 | $52,581 |
| #5 | Mayville State University | 42 | $11,456 | $47,828 |
| #6 | Montana State University-Northern | 41 | $12,664 | $49,505 |
| #15 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver | 20 | $17,418 | $63,435 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in PA.
Best Programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
The highest-earning program at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver is Information Science/Studies at $59,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $29,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Information Science/Studies graduate from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver earns $59,700, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $29,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Information Science/Studies graduates carry $26,726 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,418/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $59,700 | $59,700 | $26,726 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $56,200 | $56,200 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,900 | $43,900 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,900 | $32,900 | $27,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,300 | $32,300 | $25,312 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Monaca, PA
- Student Body
- 482 students
- Admission Rate
- 96%
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,418
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000