Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley, Pennsylvania
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
20% gap between the two groups
29% gap between the two groups
9% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $12,422 |
| $30k–$48k | $13,319 |
| $48k–$75k | $16,438 |
| $75k–$110k | $23,611 |
| $110k+ | $24,539 |
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley compares
This college against the Pennsylvania and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Associate's | $116,013 | $25,000 | +1,459% | Strong return |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Associate's | $105,563 | $25,000 | +1,230% | Strong return |
| Information Science/Studies | Associate's | $92,982 | $25,950 | +945% | Strong return |
| Civil Engineering | Associate's | $82,353 | $26,000 | +714% | Strong return |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | Associate's | $80,065 | $25,601 | +666% | Strong return |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate's | $73,837 | $25,000 | +533% | Strong return |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Associate's | $70,075 | $25,000 | +451% | Strong return |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | Associate's | $69,396 | $26,971 | +427% | Strong return |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Associate's | $67,400 | $24,375 | +394% | Strong return |
| Business/Commerce, General | Associate's | $62,450 | $25,593 | +281% | Strong return |
| Business/Commerce, General | Certificate | $53,721 | $17,701 | +254% | Strong return |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | Associate's | $56,884 | $23,455 | +164% | Strong return |
| Business/Corporate Communications | Associate's | $56,837 | $25,000 | +160% | Strong return |
| Psychology, General | Associate's | $51,142 | $26,000 | +34% | Break-even |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Associate's | $50,801 | $26,000 | +26% | Break-even |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Certificate | $45,363 | $16,500 | -85% | Poor return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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