York College of Pennsylvania
York College of Pennsylvania — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
York College of Pennsylvania at a Glance
York College of Pennsylvania is a private college in Spring Garden Township, Pennsylvania, near the city of York. It offers more than 70 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences, and humanities to 3,800 full-time undergraduate students. It also offers master's programs in business, public policy, education, and nursing, along with a doctoral program in nursing practice to over 400 postgraduate students.
1787
239 years old
$198M
$198 million (2025)
3,800
190 acres
Identity
How to Apply to York College of Pennsylvania
Official admissions pageNovember 1 (Early Decision)
$70
Testing policy
Is York College of Pennsylvania Worth It?
York College of Pennsylvania offers moderate value at $18,556/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $61,012, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 62% graduation rate means roughly 38% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How York College of Pennsylvania compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #12 of 107 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 Detroit Mercy | 79 | $15,232 | $71,030 |
| #2 | Carroll University | 67 | $15,193 | $58,009 |
| #3 | Lewis University | 63 | $17,028 | $66,099 |
| #4 | Pacific Lutheran University | 60 | $19,589 | $66,990 |
| #5 | Canisius University | 58 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| #6 | University of Mary | 58 | $17,770 | $60,909 |
| #12 | York College of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,556 | $61,012 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of York College of Pennsylvania's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 13 in PA.
Best Programs at York College of Pennsylvania
The highest-earning program at York College of Pennsylvania is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $62,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Communication and Media Studies at $21,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from York College of Pennsylvania earns $62,500, while a Communication and Media Studies graduate earns $21,900. 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: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Communication and Media Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,556/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $62,500 | $62,500 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,100 | $42,100 | $26,750 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,600 | $41,600 | $28,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,600 | $40,600 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $34,200 | $34,200 | $26,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $33,400 | $33,400 | $22,375 |
| Marketing | $31,900 | $31,900 | $26,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,200 | $31,200 | $27,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $28,900 | $28,900 | $26,250 |
| Biology, General | $27,600 | $27,600 | $25,990 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $21,900 | $21,900 | $25,000 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- York, PA
- Student Body
- 3,265 students
- Admission Rate
- 74%
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,556
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $61,012
- Median Student Debt
- $26,000