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Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Public Associate Strong 80/100

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania

About Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 171 students (a very small, intimate 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.

Official website: cpi.edu

Acceptance: 96.2%
Graduation: 76.3%
Net Price: $9,857
Median Earnings (10yr): $41,677
Enrollment: 171
Student : Faculty: 10:1

Accreditor Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges

Academic Calendar Differs by Program

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 (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

80/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 95

Value 58

Affordability 65

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 96.2%, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

96.2%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants 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 Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 5.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology 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 $9,857 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$9,857

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

56%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

51%

Borrowing to attend

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

$8,203
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,518
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,640
$75,001 – $110,000

$15,817

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.

$2,750

10% percentile

$4,500

25% percentile

$9,454

Median percentile

$9,500

75% percentile

$17,200

90% 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 $7,750 ↓ $1,704

No Pell $5,500 ↓ $3,954

Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $3,954

Independent students $9,500 —

Female students $9,500 —

Male students $5,500 ↓ $3,954

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($9,454), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

76% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

76%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

85%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology earn a median of $41,677 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$41,677

Earning > $25K

71%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

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 ↑ 12.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is home to 171 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

171

Part-Time

19%

First-Generation

55%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 95.9% 164

Hispanic 1.2% 2

Asian 1.2% 2

International 1.2% 2

Black 0.6% 1

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Rural: Fringe Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

40% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Differs by Program scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology offers a varied set of programs: 11 distinct programs across 5 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.

4 Programs

Health

Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)
Medical Assisting $69K ($46K–$91K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)

3 Programs

Engineering Tech

1 Program

Personal Services

Cosmetology

2 Programs

Mechanics & Repair

Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)
Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)

1 Program

Precision Production

Precision Metal Working

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

10:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$16,111

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Avg Faculty Salary

$56,405

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

20 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors	20	100%	$56,405

Pros & Cons of Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side

Best for: Based on the data, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.

Is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology hard to get into?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.2%.

What is the acceptance rate at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology has an acceptance rate of 96.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology cost?

The average net price after aid at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is $9,857 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,677 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,857 per year. That's roughly 4.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology known for?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Cosmetology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology are $41,677, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology accredited?

Yes. Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

How many students attend Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology enrolls 171 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology graduates 76% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology a public or private college?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is a Public institution.

Where is Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology located?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is located in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology offer?

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology offers 11 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Cosmetology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.