Central Penn College is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 662 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value38
Affordability69
Selectivity96
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 18.5%, Central Penn College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
18.5%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Central Penn College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
58.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central Penn College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,953 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,953
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
66%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$19,854
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,581
Room & Board (off-campus)
$5,750
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,116
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,859
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,164
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,011
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,973
Over $110,000
$23,656
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,05010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,194Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$37,07990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,151
↓ $10,043
No Pell $12,958
↓ $10,236
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $12,194
Independent students $14,887
↓ $8,307
Female students $13,443
↓ $9,751
Male students $12,653
↓ $10,541
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,667, less than completers ($23,194), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
23% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Penn College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
23%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central Penn College earn a median of $45,370 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,370
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,300, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
25.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central Penn College is home to 662 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 80% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
662
Part-Time
80%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 55.1%365
Black 18.0%119
Hispanic 9.5%63
Other 6.1%40
International 3.9%26
Asian 3.0%20
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Penn College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSummerdale, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential321 beds on campus
Adult Learners
46%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Central Penn College offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
6 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Penn College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$48,191
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
3
8%
$66,563
Associate Professors
5
13%
$52,555
Assistant Professors
14
37%
$47,708
Instructors
8
21%
$43,690
Lecturers
8
21%
$43,918
Pros & Cons of Central Penn College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Penn College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Central Penn College is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options; students seeking a highly selective peer group; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Penn College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Penn College.
Is Central Penn College hard to get into?
Central Penn College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 18.5%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Central Penn College?
Central Penn College has an acceptance rate of 18.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central Penn College cost?
The average net price after aid at Central Penn College is $18,953 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Penn College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,370 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,953 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Penn College known for?
Central Penn College is best known for its programs in Medical Assisting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central Penn College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Penn College are $45,370, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central Penn College accredited?
Yes. Central Penn College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Central Penn College?
Central Penn College enrolls 662 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central Penn College?
Central Penn College graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central Penn College a public or private college?
Central Penn College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Central Penn College located?
Central Penn College is located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Central Penn College offer?
Central Penn College offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Medical Assisting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Penn College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Penn College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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