Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley Worth It?
At a value score of 15/100, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $63,435 — 18% above average — while paying $18,220/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 18% 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 97% 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 Lehigh Valley has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #27 of 30 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 | Lake Superior State University | 51 | $12,822 | $49,045 |
| #3 | Wright State University-Lake Campus | 47 | $11,081 | $49,500 |
| #4 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 45 | $5,746 | $52,581 |
| #5 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | 44 | $5,993 | $52,581 |
| #6 | Potomac State College of West Virginia University | 43 | $9,197 | $55,939 |
| #27 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley | 15 | $18,220 | $63,435 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 11 in PA.
Best Programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
The highest-earning program at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley is Information Science/Studies at $59,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at $28,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Information Science/Studies graduate from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley earns $59,700, while a Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduate earns $28,000. 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. $26,894 for Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,220/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 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $49,000 | $49,000 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,900 | $43,900 | $27,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $43,500 | $43,500 | $26,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,900 | $36,900 | $27,000 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $36,300 | $36,300 | $25,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,700 | $33,700 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $29,400 | $29,400 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $27,000 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $28,700 | $28,700 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $28,000 | $28,000 | $26,894 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Center Valley, PA
- Student Body
- 859 students
- Admission Rate
- 97%
- Graduation Rate
- 18%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,220
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000