Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Keystone College #1388 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,229 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keystone College in the 15.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Keystone College #1368 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Keystone College #1388 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Keystone College is a private master's college located in La Plume, PA, enrolling approximately 771 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 57.2% freshman retention rate and a 35.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence and degree completion outcomes. Keystone College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Keystone College #1368 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,229 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keystone College in the 15.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in Business, aligns with career pathways that deliver meaningful financial returns relative to the cost of attendance. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Keystone College sits in the 35.6 percentile for access and the 35.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a smaller private institution, Keystone College enrolls 41.8% Pell-eligible students and 47.7% first-generation undergraduates — figures that reflect the institution's positioning within the private nonprofit sector. Mobility outcomes sit in the 13.3 percentile, indicating that while return on investment is the institution's strength, the broader economic mobility story for low-income graduates remains an area where Keystone College differs from top-performing peers.
Keystone College's published cost of attendance is $32,071. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $21,925, middle-income families pay around $18,916, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,271. Azimuth ranks Keystone College #916 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary. Keystone College's aid structure uses need-based and merit-based components to reshape the sticker price across income levels. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, and work-study is offered as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,158; 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 $46,043, 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.
Keystone College is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private college experience in PA. Its program mix leans heavily toward Business, which represents 21% of degrees awarded. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $46,043, placing Keystone College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $12,229 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 15.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 41.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 47.7% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Keystone College in the 8.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 84.8% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors business-oriented fields over STEM or health. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a clear pathway to stable earnings outcomes.
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 Keystone 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.
Keystone College's published cost of attendance is $32,071. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $21,925, middle-income families pay around $18,916, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,271.
Azimuth ranks Keystone College #916 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary.
Keystone College's aid structure uses need-based and merit-based components to reshape the sticker price across income levels. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, and work-study is offered as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,158; 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 $46,043, 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 of Keystone College earn median 4-year earnings of $46,043, placing Keystone College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,229 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keystone College in the 15.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Keystone College #1368 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Keystone College's concentration in Business.
Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology is the largest program with 26 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,571, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 26 students earning $57,447, while Kinesiology and Social Sciences round out the institution's core offerings with 21 and 17 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor Keystone College's economic profile and reflect the institution's focus on fields with direct labor-market alignment.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
7 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
26 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
9 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
21 graduates
Social Sciences, Other
17 graduates
Keystone College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a career-focused private college. Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Kinesiology, Social Sciences, and Special Education and Teaching.
The institution concentrates in Business (representing 21% of graduates), Education (representing 15%), and Social Sciences (representing 8%), creating a focused portfolio aligned with direct workforce entry. The highest-earning programs at Keystone College reflect this professional orientation.
Business Administration graduates earn median earnings of $57,447 four years after enrollment, while Accounting graduates earn $54,695 and Kinesiology graduates earn $52,747. Social Sciences and Criminal Justice round out the strongest-earning fields, with graduates earning $46,452 and $41,695 respectively.
These outcomes reflect the institution's strength in applied business and professional disciplines where employers recruit directly from campus. The concentration in business and professional fields positions Keystone College as a direct-to-workforce institution where most graduates enter stable, career-focused roles immediately after completion.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in business, healthcare, and professional services sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lourdes University Similar quality tier (#36182 ranked) | OH | 74% | $48,150 | #36182 | Compare |
Colby-Sawyer College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36175 ranked) | NH | 80% | $46,474 | #36175 | Compare |
Hendrix College Similar quality tier (#36174 ranked) | AR | 56% | $60,376 | #36174 | Compare |
Pennsylvania College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36173 ranked) | PA | 99% | $33,301 | #36173 | Compare |
Mcmurry University Similar quality tier (#36171 ranked) | TX | 57% | $48,779 | #36171 | Compare |
