Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine Worth It?
At a value score of 17/100, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $63,435 — 18% above average — while paying $22,585/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 24% 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 98% 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 Brandywine has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #28 of 32 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 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #2 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #3 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
| #4 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| #5 | University of Maine at Fort Kent | 68 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| #6 | Lake Superior State University | 51 | $12,822 | $49,045 |
| #28 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 17 | $22,585 | $63,435 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 9 in PA.
Best Programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
The highest-earning program at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at $65,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $27,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management graduate from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine earns $65,000, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $27,300. 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: Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $26,000 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,585/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $65,000 | $65,000 | $27,000 |
| Information Science/Studies | $59,700 | $59,700 | $26,726 |
| Engineering, General | $46,800 | $46,800 | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $44,400 | $44,400 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,900 | $43,900 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,500 | $37,500 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,900 | $36,900 | $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 |
| Biology, General | $29,400 | $29,400 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $27,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,600 | $28,600 | $27,283 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,300 | $27,300 | $26,000 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Media, PA
- Student Body
- 1,223 students
- Admission Rate
- 98%
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,585
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000