University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford at a Glance
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is a state-related college in Bradford Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1963, it is a baccalaureate degree-granting, regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh, conferring degrees in over 40 fields of study. In addition to its focus on undergraduate education, the campus hosts multiple research/teaching units of the University of Pittsburgh, including the Center for Rural Health Practice and the Allegheny Institute of Natural History…
1963
63 years old
$38M
$37.66 million (2025)
1,317
98
470 acres
Identity
Is University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Worth It?
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford offers moderate value at $15,350/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $66,125, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 46% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How University of Pittsburgh-Bradford compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #7 of 28 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 Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | 95 | $10,875 | $73,997 |
| #2 | University of New Hampshire at Manchester | 93 | $9,992 | $66,479 |
| #3 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point | 79 | $13,807 | $73,997 |
| #4 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | 74 | $16,403 | $73,997 |
| #5 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | 73 | $21,582 | $82,392 |
| #6 | University of Maine at Fort Kent | 68 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| #7 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 49 | $15,350 | $66,125 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Pittsburgh-Bradford's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 9 in PA.
Best Programs at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
The highest-earning program at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford is Computer Science at $63,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at $24,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of Pittsburgh-Bradford earns $63,100, while a Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas graduate earns $24,800. 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 Science graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $26,963 for Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,350/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 Science | $63,100 | $63,100 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $58,800 | $58,800 | $25,000 |
| Applied Mathematics | $55,200 | $55,200 | $26,908 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $52,800 | $52,800 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $41,900 | $41,900 | $24,875 |
| Chemistry | $35,600 | $35,600 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $35,100 | $35,100 | $26,978 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $26,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $34,100 | $34,100 | $26,281 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,200 | $30,200 | $26,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $30,200 | $30,200 | $24,125 |
| Psychology, General | $29,500 | $29,500 | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $28,500 | $28,500 | $25,995 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $24,800 | $24,800 | $26,963 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bradford, PA
- Student Body
- 995 students
- Admission Rate
- 89%
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,350
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $66,125
- Median Student Debt
- $24,250