Cedar Crest College
- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,460 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $18,659 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 84% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $20.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,471,758.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 46% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cedar Crest College Matters
Cedar Crest College is a private university in Allentown, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 834
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Cedar Crest College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 84% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,659 a year after grants and scholarships — 9% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,460 ten years after enrolling — 46% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.63 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA, is a solid choice for students interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Education. With an acceptance rate of 84%, it’s a welcoming environment for those who want to pursue a degree in a supportive setting. The college has a small enrollment of about 834 students, which fosters a close-knit community where individuals can thrive academically and personally.
After graduation, Cedar Crest alumni earn a median income of $59,460 within ten years. This figure can help set expectations for students considering their financial future. Additionally, with 44% of students receiving Pell Grants, the college is accessible to those who might need financial support. While the graduation rate stands at 59%, those who do complete their degrees often find good opportunities in their chosen fields.
When it comes to the financial aspects, the average net price after aid is $18,659, which is a reasonable figure for a private college. Graduates leave with a median debt of $27,000, a manageable amount compared to potential earnings. Students who tend to thrive here are those looking for a more personalized educational experience and are dedicated to their studies, particularly in the top programs Cedar Crest is known for.
Rankings
- #33 Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania
- #34 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
- #38 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #39 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania
- #40 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #42 Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #46 Best Online Business Programs in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Cedar Crest College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cedar Crest College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cedar Crest College, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 25. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,285
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
- Applicants
- 946
- Admitted
- 797
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cedar Crest College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cedar Crest College is $46,314, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,659. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,044 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $46,314
- Out-of-State
- $46,314
- Avg Net Price
- $18,659
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 70%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $21,044
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $24,250
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,490
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,008
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cedar Crest College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cedar Crest College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cedar Crest College earn a median of $59,460, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,295
- 8 Years
- $52,869
- 10 Years
- $59,460
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (93)
- 55%
- 100% (93)
- 55%
- 100% (93)
- 55%
- 100% (93)
- 55%
How Cedar Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Cedar Crest College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cedar Crest College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,659/year ($74,636 total). Graduates earn $59,460 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,546,394 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,471,758 (20.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $74,636
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,546,394
- Net Return
- $1,471,758
- ROI Multiple
- 20.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,659
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,013,962
- Investment Income
- $-7,778,022
Top Programs
The fields Cedar Crest College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 32% $76,527 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $52,305 early-career
- Psychology 8% $33,796 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8%
- Education 7% $39,121 early-career
- Social Sciences 6% $40,390 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $34,625 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cedar Crest College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cedar Crest College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Cedar Crest College, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 25. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cedar Crest College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cedar Crest College is $46,314, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,659. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,044 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Cedar Crest College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cedar Crest College earn a median of $59,460, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Cedar Crest College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cedar Crest College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cedar Crest College.
- Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL · Close peer61% grad $55,700 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Goldey-Beacom CollegeWilmington, DE · Close peer58% grad $59,892 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburg, PA · Close peer63% grad $58,537 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA · Close peer62% grad $59,492 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, IA · Close peer57% grad $60,787 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady UniversityBaton Rouge, LA · Close peer49% grad $59,419 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cedar Crest College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cedar Crest College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note