Lincoln University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lincoln University charges a net price of $14,977/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,908. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,167, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Lincoln University does not clear its cost — it ranks #129 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,977/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,908 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,167 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,193/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $28,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$163,768 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lincoln University's own numbers. Net price $14,977 × 4 years = $59,908 total. Median earnings $43,167 fall $5,193 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $59,908 bill in about 6.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Lincoln University students graduate with?
A median $28,250 in federal loans among completers, or 65% of the $43,167 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lincoln University students graduate?
44% finish their degree — 56% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $59,908 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $136,155 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lincoln University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $14,977 net price runs $6,764 below the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, and $27,056 less across the full degree.