Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine — ROI, Cost & Payback
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine charges a net price of $22,585/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,340. Graduates earn a median $63,435 ten years after entry, $15,075/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6 years — a 20-year net return of $211,160, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine's 6-year payback ranks #527 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 59% of them, and #52 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,585/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $90,340 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $63,435 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $15,075/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $211,160 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine's own numbers. Net price $22,585 × 4 years = $90,340 total. Median earnings $63,435 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,075 a year of premium. $90,340 ÷ $15,075 = 6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $211,160. 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $63,435 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine students graduate?
26% finish their degree — 74% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $90,340 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $347,462 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $22,585 net price runs $844 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $3,376 more across the full degree.