Central Penn College
- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,370 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,953 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 18% A
- Admits roughly 18% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $948,583.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 43% — 24% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Central Penn College Matters
Central Penn College is a private for-profit college in Summerdale, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and 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 for-profit College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 662
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Legal Studies, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Central Penn 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
Highly selective — admits about 18% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,953 a year after grants and scholarships — 11% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,370 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $23,194 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 95% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.46 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Central Penn College caters to students who are looking for practical, career-focused education in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Legal Studies, and Criminal Justice. With an acceptance rate of just 18%, it attracts motivated individuals who are ready to engage deeply with their studies. The relatively small enrollment of 662 students allows for a more personalized learning environment, which can be a major plus for those who thrive in smaller classes and seek close interaction with faculty.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $45,370 within ten years, which gives a sense of the financial return on their investment. Many graduates find success in their chosen fields, especially in areas where there is a high demand for skilled professionals. The affordability of Central Penn College is notable with a net price of $18,953 after financial aid, making it accessible for students who might be concerned about student debt.
In terms of financial realities, graduates leave with a median debt of $23,194, which is manageable given their earnings potential. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who are self-motivated and focused on building a career in their chosen field. With nearly half of the students receiving Pell Grants, it’s clear that the college supports a diverse student body, making higher education a reality for many who may not have considered it possible. Overall, Central Penn College presents a practical option for students ready to invest in their future.
Can I Get In?
How selective Central Penn 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 Central Penn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, Central Penn College sets a competitive bar: about 18% of applicants get an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,380
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
- Applicants
- 709
- Admitted
- 241
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 Central Penn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Penn College is $19,854, 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 $18,953. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,859 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,194 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $19,854
- Out-of-State
- $19,854
- Avg Net Price
- $18,953
- Median Debt
- $23,194
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 66%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,859
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,164
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,011
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,656
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 Central Penn 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 Central Penn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Penn College earn a median of $45,370, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,798
- 8 Years
- $44,033
- 10 Years
- $45,370
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (27)
- 42%
- 100% (27)
- 42%
- 100% (27)
- 42%
- 100% (27)
- 42%
How Central Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Central Penn College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Central Penn College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,953/year ($75,812 total). Graduates earn $45,370 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,024,395 in total earnings — a net gain of $948,583 (13.5× your investment). The median debt is $23,194, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $75,812
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,024,395
- Net Return
- $948,583
- ROI Multiple
- 13.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,953
- Median Debt
- $23,194
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Central Penn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Penn College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.58%, a more modest figure. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.58%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $90,758
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Central Penn 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 58% $43,440 early-career
- Business & Marketing 23% $55,456 early-career
- Legal Studies 7% $38,583 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $39,556 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $55,399 early-career
- Communications 2%
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 Central Penn 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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Penn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, Central Penn College sets a competitive bar: about 18% of applicants get an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Penn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Penn College is $19,854, 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 $18,953. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,859 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,194 in federal student loans.
Is Central Penn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Penn College earn a median of $45,370, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Central Penn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Penn College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.58%, a more modest figure. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Central Penn 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 Central Penn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Central Penn College.
- Five Towns CollegeDix Hills, NY · Strong match52% grad $35,887 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Silicon ValleySan Jose, CA · Strong match31% grad $51,017 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar size
- DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical CenterJohnstown, PA · Strong match39% grad $65,740 earn 30% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Plaza CollegeForest Hills, NY · Strong match65% grad $31,519 earn 30% acceptWhy: similar size · similar net price
- Professional Skills InstituteMaumee, OH · Strong match59% grad $47,765 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Nossi College of Art and DesignNashville, TN · Strong match40% grad $35,113 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Central Penn 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 Central Penn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note