Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #403 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania sits in the 41.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $4,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #851 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduates earning more than expected relative to their backgrounds and the cost of attendance. The institution's return on investment standing, anchored by its health-dominant program mix, places it among the stronger-performing public universities in the Azimuth coverage set for long-run financial outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #403 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Bloomsburg, PA, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania enrolls roughly 9,210 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 54.5%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a broad-access regional institution. The composite is anchored by what Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania delivers for the students it serves. 31.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.0% are first-generation college students, signaling a genuinely open-access posture. The dominant program concentration is Health, a field with strong regional labor-market demand and consistent graduate employment. Graduates earn about $4,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in the 41.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #851 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability shape the rest of the composite picture. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania admits roughly 93.1% of applicants, consistent with a broad-access admissions posture that keeps enrollment open to a wide range of students. Affordability sits in the 58.9 percentile and mobility in the 88.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's positioning as a regionally focused university where cost and career outcomes are closely tied to PA's labor market. Access sits in the 60.9 percentile, supported by the institution's Pell and first-generation enrollment levels.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's published cost of attendance is $25,161. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $11,374, middle-income families pay around $13,877, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,099. Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #586 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. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The institution's aid structure prioritizes meeting demonstrated financial need for eligible students, with aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,233; 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 $58,676, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is a public university in PA that serves students drawn to health, education, and applied professional fields — a strong fit for those who want a regional institution with clear career pathways and manageable costs. Graduates earn in the 38.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania sits in the 41.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $4,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment at a regional public institution. The access profile is broad. 31.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.0% are first-generation college students, and the institution's net price for higher-income families runs $20,099, with typical federal student loan debt at graduation of $26,000. For cost-sensitive students and families, that combination of accessible pricing and solid earnings outcomes makes Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania a practical, lower-risk path. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; students seeking a large research university environment or highly specialized STEM programs will find a different profile here.
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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This is the Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
181 graduates
Computer Science
19 graduates
Public Health
9 graduates
Physics
5 graduates
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
55 graduates
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its regional public university identity in central Pennsylvania. The dominant program family is Health, which shapes both the scale and the earnings profile of the institution's degree output.
Across 47 programs, the university serves roughly 2,361 students annually, with 35 programs meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The highest aggregate-return program — combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — is Business Administration, which reflects the institution's strength in health-aligned fields where graduates move directly into stable, in-demand roles.
Among the most popular programs, Business Administration program graduates 343 students with median earnings of $64,030 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #191 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Teacher Education also enroll large cohorts — 181 and 147 graduates respectively — with four-year median earnings of $89,958 and $48,662, reflecting the breadth of the university's applied and professional offerings.
The strongest early-career earnings at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are concentrated in health and technical fields. Nursing leads with median earnings of $89,958 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #160 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Security Science and Technology and Business Administration follow, with graduates earning $73,289 and $64,030 respectively — programs where graduates typically enter the workforce directly in roles with consistent regional demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health and applied-professional fields align with national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15098 ranked) | PA | 78% | $61,258 | #15098 | Compare |
Kent State University At Kent Similar quality tier (#15119 ranked) | OH | 86% | $45,388 | #15119 | Compare |
Suny Brockport Similar quality tier in Northeast (#14060 ranked) | NY | 71% | $54,496 | #14060 | Compare |
University Of Wyoming Similar quality tier (#15126 ranked) | WY | 97% | $56,880 | #15126 | Compare |
Southern University And A & M College Similar quality tier (#12007 ranked) | LA | 35% | $43,371 | #12007 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's published cost of attendance is $25,161. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $11,374, middle-income families pay around $13,877, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,099.
Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #586 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.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA.
The institution's aid structure prioritizes meeting demonstrated financial need for eligible students, with aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,233; 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 $58,676, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $58,676, placing Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in the 38.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in the 41.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania #851 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to PA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $33,196, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential in the young-adult age range.
The earnings pattern at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is anchored in Health, which shapes both the program mix and the institution's strongest return pathways. Business Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings.
Business Administration is the largest program by graduate count, with 343 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $64,030, and Azimuth ranks it #191 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Nursing and Teacher Education round out the upper tier, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $89,958 and $48,662 respectively — fields that align with stable regional hiring demand in health and applied professional services.
Program mix is concentrated in Business at 18%, followed by Education at 8% and Social Sciences at 3%, a distribution that reflects the institution's orientation toward career-ready, regionally grounded fields.
