Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York is a less selective public university in York, Pennsylvania. It admits most applicants, graduates 16% of its students within six years, and its former students earn a median $63,435 ten years after starting college, more than 54% of the Pennsylvania colleges we cover.

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Acceptance rate
97%

More selective than 6% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

What your family pays
$19,047 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $27,826. College Scorecard.

Graduation rate
16%

Higher than 1% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover and 3% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.

Within 6 years · College Scorecard

Earnings after college
$63,435

Higher than 54% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover and 77% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.

Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York acceptance rate & admissions

Of 2,012 applicants, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York admitted 1,855 and 185 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1050–1245 on the SAT or 22–28 on the ACT.

2,012
Applied
1,855
Admitted
185
Enrolled

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

SAT total, middle 50% of first-years1050–1245
ACT composite, middle 50% of first-years22–28
First-years who sent SAT scores35%
First-year students who return77%
Pell Grant recipients30%
First-generation students29%
Women / men38% / 62%

Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York tuition, cost & net price

What families actually pay per year, by income

Average net price after grants and scholarships for Pennsylvania residents who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year (in-state, federal aid recipients)

Sticker price (before aid)

Tuition & fees, in-state$15,208
Tuition & fees, out-of-state$25,392
Housing & meals, on campus—
Books & supplies$1,840
Total cost of attendance, in-state$27,826

IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard

Median debt at graduation$19,500

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Full cost breakdown, in-state vs out-of-state →

State aid: Pennsylvania residents with financial need may receive a PA State Grant: up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 at approved colleges, depending on need and the college. Not included in the prices above. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), PA State Grant

What Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York costs to finish, and how fast it pays back

Graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York took 4.4 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Pennsylvania. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$11,582$51,4241.9 years
$30–48k$11,156$49,5331.8 years
$48–75k$16,261$72,1992.6 years
$75–110k$20,054$89,0403.2 years
$110k+$24,411$108,3853.9 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (8% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($63,435) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $27,638 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.

Best-value colleges in Pennsylvania for your income →

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York majors, earnings & careers

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York offers 13 bachelor's majors across 7 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.

  • Business & Finance · 3
  • Social Sciences & Public Service · 3
  • Science & Math · 2
  • Technology & Computing · 2
  • Communications & Media · 1
  • Engineering · 1
  • Humanities & Languages · 1

Highest-earning majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

MajorEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences$120,729$26,000
Information Science / Studies$91,671$26,000
Electromechanical Technologies / Technicians$81,835$27,000
Management Science / Analytics$73,308$26,000
Biological and Physical Sciences$69,102$26,000
Political Science$68,918$26,000
Business$65,292$27,000
Biology$64,910$26,000
Quick list of all 13 majors
  • Biological and Physical Sciences$69,102
  • Biology$64,910
  • Business$65,292
  • Business / Corporate Communications$55,840
  • Communications$55,505
  • Computer and Information Sciences$120,729
  • Electromechanical Technologies / Technicians$81,835
  • English$50,299
  • Human Development and Family Studies$45,943
  • Information Science / Studies$91,671
  • Management Science / Analytics$73,308
  • Political Science$68,918
  • Psychology$49,543

— means too few graduates to report earnings.

College Scorecard field of study, latest release

All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →

Business → Management analyst

$104,770
York
$93,830
Pennsylvania
$101,860
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Biology → Biological technician

$54,950
Pennsylvania
$57,510
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Living in York

Cost of living
4% below the U.S. average

Overall prices in the York-Hanover, PA area.

BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024

Off-campus rent, 1 bedroom
$1,042/mo

2 bedrooms $1,327. Housing costs 20% below the U.S. average.

HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027

Weather
41° / 88°

January and July average highs. 46 inches of rain a year, 25 inches of snow.

NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020

Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate

Highest: river flooding (relatively high); winter weather (very high).

FEMA National Risk Index, York County

Campus & students

Total enrollment (incl. graduate)707
First-year students from Pennsylvania81%
Next most common home statesMaryland, New York, Florida
Undergraduate degrees awarded, 2023-2485% bachelor's · 10% associate · 5% certificates
Student bodyWhite 64% · Hispanic 12% · Black 8% · Asian 5%International 5%

IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute

York County at a glance

Population462,924
Median household income$84,829
Adults with a bachelor's degree28%
Median age41

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024

Compare Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York with similar schools

Similar public colleges in Pennsylvania by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York97%$19,04716%$63,435This school
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley97%$18,22018%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny96%$15,52119%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver96%$17,41822%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre97%$16,44823%$63,435

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York would cost you $827 more per year than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley, on average.

  • Lower sticker price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York.
  • Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley gives aided families $1,110 more in grants, on average.
Per year, Pennsylvania residentPennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyDifference
Sticker price$27,826$28,109−$283
Average grants−$8,779−$9,889+$1,110
You pay$19,047$18,220+$827

“+” means Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Common questions about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

What is the Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York acceptance rate?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York accepts 97% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 1,855 of 2,012 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1050–1245 on the SAT or 22–28 on the ACT.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York cost per year?

The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $27,826 a year for in-state students. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $19,047 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $11,582 and families earning $110k+ pay $24,411.

How much do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York graduates earn?

Former Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York students earn a median $63,435 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.

What is the Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York graduation rate?

16% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year.

How long does a Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York degree take to pay off?

For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York costs about $72,199 after grants ($16,261 a year for 4.4 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $63,435 ten years after starting, $27,638 more than high school graduates in Pennsylvania ($35,797), so the cost is repaid in 2.6 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York the right fit for your family?

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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-york (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).