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Eastern University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Saint Davids, PA · 2,404 students

The verdict

Eastern University charges a net price of $26,662/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $106,648. Graduates earn a median $51,655 ten years after entry, $3,295/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 32.4 years — a 20-year net return of -$40,748, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Eastern University's 32.4-year payback ranks #1,141 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 11% of them, and #106 of 169 in Pennsylvania.

Better ROI than 11% of US colleges#1,141 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,662
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$51,655
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
32.4 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
91%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Eastern University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,662/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$106,648our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$51,655Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$3,295/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback32.4 yrsour math
20-year net return-$40,748our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Eastern University's own numbers. Net price $26,662 × 4 years = $106,648 total. Median earnings $51,655 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,295 a year of premium. $106,648 ÷ $3,295 = 32.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$40,748. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Eastern University students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $51,655 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Eastern University students graduate?

54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $106,648 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $197,496 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Eastern University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?

Its $26,662 net price runs $4,921 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $19,684 more across the full degree.

Eastern University: frequently asked questions

Is Eastern University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Eastern University charges $26,662/yr after aid ($106,648 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $51,655 ten years out — $3,295/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 32.4 years and returns -$40,748 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a Eastern University degree take to pay off?
About 32.4 years. We divide the $106,648 four-year net cost by the $3,295/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Eastern University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,662/yr — about $106,648 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Eastern University compare to other Pennsylvania colleges?
It ranks #106 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by payback. Its $51,655 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,662 net price is above the national median of $16,902.