At $18,192/yr net price, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois graduates earn $63,435/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $29,435/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,192 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $72,768 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$29,435/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 29.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,198/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,592/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,179/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,894/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,705/yr |
The Risk Factor
29.0% of students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Penn State DuBois gives you a solid earnings payoff paired with a real completion risk. Ten years out, median earnings clear $63,000, which is strong for a regional campus in rural western Pennsylvania. Median debt sits at $25,000, so you'd finish owing less than one year of that later salary. On the debt-to-earnings math alone, this school pays off.
The problem is finishing. Only 29% of students graduate. That number reshapes everything, because the $63,000 earnings figure belongs to people who completed a Penn State degree. If you leave partway through, you carry the debt without the credential that produces those earnings. Retention holds at 79%, meaning most students return after year one, but the gap between that and the 29% grad rate tells you the losses come later. Before you enroll, understand why so few students cross the finish line here.
No program-level salary data is listed for this campus, so treat the $63,000 median as a blended figure across all majors, not a promise for any single one.
The net price tiers make this school genuinely affordable if your family earns under $30,000, where you'd pay around $7,200 a year. That climbs steadily with income, and above $110,000 you pay roughly $23,700. The jump between the $48-75k tier and the $75-110k tier is the steepest, so middle-income families feel the squeeze hardest.
This school fits you if you're confident you'll finish and you're paying a lower-income net price. If you're on the fence about completing a four-year degree, the 29% grad rate is a warning worth taking seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois worth the cost?
The numbers are mixed - graduates earn $63,435 after 10 years with $25,000 in debt, which is manageable. However, the 29% graduation rate means most students don't finish, making it risky for many applicants.
What is the return on investment for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois?
Graduates who complete their degree see decent returns with median earnings around $63,000, but the extremely low graduation rate of 29% means most students won't see any return. The $18,192 annual net price becomes a poor investment if you don't graduate.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois graduates have?
Graduates typically leave with $25,000 in debt, which is reasonable compared to the $63,435 median salary 10 years out. The bigger concern is the high dropout rate - students who don't finish still carry debt without the degree benefits.
What programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois have the best job prospects?
As a Penn State branch campus, programs that transfer to University Park for completion in engineering, business, or healthcare typically offer better career outcomes. Students should plan their path carefully given the low overall graduation rate.