Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #829 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,411 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 90.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #1371 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for its student population.
Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #829 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Allentown, PA, Cedar Crest College enrolls roughly 834 undergraduates. Retention is 71.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.4%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Cedar Crest College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #371 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $67,546. The institution's dominant program family is Health, which aligns with strong regional demand in healthcare and related fields. Graduates earn about $13,411 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cedar Crest College in the 90.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability anchor the composite profile. 43.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 43.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting Cedar Crest College's role as an accessible option for students from varied economic backgrounds. Cedar Crest College sits in the 36.8 percentile for access and the 43.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 7.3 percentile, indicating that low-income and first-generation graduates achieve solid long-term earnings relative to peers at comparable institutions.
Cedar Crest College's published cost of attendance is $57,206, but need-based aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $21,044; middle-income families pay around $21,490; higher-income families pay approximately $11,008. Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #810 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Cedar Crest's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most first-year students receive need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,620; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,546, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cedar Crest College is a strong fit for students interested in Health fields who want a small private college experience in PA. The institution's health-focused program mix and supportive environment make it particularly well-suited for students seeking careers in nursing and allied health professions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $67,546, placing Cedar Crest College in the 71.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,411 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 90.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 43.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 43.4% being first-generation students. This access is paired with strong outcomes for low-income graduates, as Cedar Crest College sits in the 69.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 84.1% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix is strongly oriented toward health professions. Students whose career goals align with these fields will find focused preparation and strong regional employer connections.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Cedar Crest College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Cedar Crest College's published cost of attendance is $57,206, but need-based aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $21,044; middle-income families pay around $21,490; higher-income families pay approximately $11,008.
Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #810 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Cedar Crest's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Most first-year students receive need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,620; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,546, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Cedar Crest College earn median 4-year earnings of $67,546, placing Cedar Crest College in the 71.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,411 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cedar Crest College in the 90.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Cedar Crest College #371 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cedar Crest's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 56 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $84,041, representing 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Business Administration follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Biology, General and Criminology rounding out the core program portfolio.
This health-sciences-dominant mix — anchored in Health — drives consistent early-career earnings and aligns with stable, in-demand labor-market pathways.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
56 graduates
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
6 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
17 graduates
Criminology
12 graduates
Social Work
10 graduates
Cedar Crest College concentrates its academic portfolio in health-related fields, reflecting its mission as a health-sciences-focused institution. Nursing is the largest program with 56 graduates annually, followed by Psychology, General, Business Administration, Biology, General, and Criminology.
The institution's program mix is anchored in Business at 8%, with meaningful enrollment in Social Sciences at 6% and Arts at 5%. Nursing represents the institution's largest economic footprint, combining substantial enrollment with solid four-year earnings.
Nursing leads the earnings profile, with graduates earning median earnings of $84,041 four years after enrollment. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 212 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in applied health and professional fields where employer demand remains steady and career pathways are well-defined.
The program portfolio reflects Cedar Crest College's positioning as a health-sciences-oriented private institution in a mid-sized regional market. Most programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in nursing, allied health, and related clinical fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health-focused program families align with national labor-market trends and demographic demand in healthcare.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dickinson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#22551 ranked) | PA | 42% | $70,204 | #22551 | Compare |
Cleary University Similar quality tier (#22564 ranked) | MI | 68% | $54,186 | #22564 | Compare |
Hampden-Sydney College Similar quality tier (#22565 ranked) | VA | 41% | $67,640 | #22565 | Compare |
Trocaire College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#22522 ranked) | NY | 97% | $55,318 | #22522 | Compare |
Bellarmine University Similar quality tier (#22519 ranked) | KY | 86% | $62,069 | #22519 | Compare |
