At $19,685/yr net price, York College of Pennsylvania graduates earn $61,012/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,012/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,685 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $78,740 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,012/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,012/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 59.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,792/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,129/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,388/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,010/yr |
| $110,001+ | $24,092/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $64,990 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $63,362 | $27,000 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $54,644 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $54,644 | $25,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $50,465 | $24,173 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor | $42,905 | $26,950 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $42,682 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $42,682 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $42,363 | $25,500 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $34,526 | $26,000 |
The Risk Factor
59.7% of students at York College of Pennsylvania graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
York College of Pennsylvania gives you a solid financial return for a private nonprofit. You pay about $19,685 a year, carry $26,000 in median debt, and earn around $61,012 ten years out. That debt roughly matches one year of median earnings, which keeps repayment manageable.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays the most of any program on the list and lines up with steady hospital demand across south-central Pennsylvania. Computer science and allied health both land in the mid-$50,000s and give you a healthy margin over your debt load. Finance sits just above $50,000 with the lightest debt of the bunch, so it pays off cleanly.
Special education is where you should think hard. At under $43,000 with debt near $27,000, you take on the most borrowing for the lowest paycheck on this list. The math still works because Pennsylvania needs teachers, but your early years will feel tight, and the gap between this major and nursing is roughly $20,000 a year.
The main risk is the graduation rate. About 40% of students don't finish in the tracked window, and 23% don't return after year one. If you leave with debt and no degree, none of these salary figures apply to you.
York works best for you if you enter with a clear plan in nursing, computing, allied health, or finance and intend to finish. If your family earns under $48,000, your net price drops to roughly $15,000 a year, which makes the return stronger for you than the sticker suggests. Families over $110,000 pay closer to $24,000, so the payoff there depends more on picking a high-earning major. If you want an education major, run the numbers against your expected teaching salary before you borrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is York College of Pennsylvania worth the cost?
York College provides decent value with a net price of $19,685 and graduates earning $61,012 after 10 years. However, the low 60% graduation rate means 4 in 10 students don't finish, which significantly increases the financial risk.
What are the best paying majors at York College of Pennsylvania?
Business Administration leads at $64,990 annually, followed by nursing at $63,362. Computer Science and Allied Health both average $54,644, while Finance lags behind at $50,465 despite being a business-related field.
How much debt do York College of Pennsylvania graduates have?
Graduates typically leave with $26,000 in debt, which is manageable given the $61,012 average earnings. The debt-to-income ratio works out to reasonable monthly payments for most graduates who complete their degrees.
Does York College of Pennsylvania have good graduation rates?
No, York College's 60% graduation rate is concerning and well below average for four-year colleges. This means many students pay tuition without earning a degree, making the investment much riskier than the earnings data suggests.