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Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Public Graduate Good 66/100

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

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

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Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

About Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 9,210 students (a large 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: commonwealthu.edu

Acceptance: 93.1%
Graduation: 57.7%
Net Price: $15,699
Median Earnings (10yr): $52,416
Enrollment: 9,210
Student : Faculty: 19:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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

66/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 46

Value 70

Affordability 59

Selectivity 21

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 93.1%, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

93.1%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

990 – 1190

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania 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 $15,699 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$15,699

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

32%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

54%

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 (in-state): $11,046
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $22,870
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,868
Room & Board (off-campus): $10,948
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,340
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,440
Total Cost of Attendance: $25,161

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)

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

$11,374
$30,001 – $48,000

$11,370
$48,001 – $75,000

$13,877
$75,001 – $110,000

$17,989
Over $110,000

$20,099

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.

$3,668

10% percentile

$7,500

25% percentile

$26,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$32,076

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 $21,495 ↓ $4,505

No Pell $18,590 ↓ $7,410

Dependent students $19,500 ↓ $6,500

Independent students $19,000 ↓ $7,000

Female students $20,250 ↓ $5,750

Male students $18,602 ↓ $7,398

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

58% of full-time students who enrolled at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

58%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

76%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania earn a median of $52,416 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$52,416

Earning > $25K

81%

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

$43,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$54,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$43,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$46,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$51,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,500, about 19% 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 ↑ 10.0 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is home to 9,210 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

9,210

Part-Time

First-Generation

34%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents

White 79.9% 7,360

Hispanic 7.3% 669

Black 5.2% 474

Other 2.4% 216

Asian 1.1% 103

International 0.4% 40

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting

Town: Distant Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Housing

Mostly residential 6,301 beds on campus

Adult Learners

6% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania offers an extensive catalog of programs: 85 distinct programs across 23 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.

19 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Professions $68K ($48K–$89K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)

9 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

3 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Parks $50K ($38K–$64K)

2 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)

2 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$11,385

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$77M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$99,124

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

508 instructional faculty across 4 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	206	41%	$118,832
Associate Professors	167	33%	$95,037
Assistant Professors	101	20%	$78,880
Instructors	34	7%	$59,921

Pros & Cons of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

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

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

Is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania hard to get into?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.1%.

What is the acceptance rate at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate of 93.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania scored between 990 and 1190 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

How much does Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania cost?

The average net price after aid at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is $15,699 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,416 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,699 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania known for?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are $52,416, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania accredited?

Yes. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania enrolls 9,210 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania a public or private college?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is a Public institution.

Where is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania located?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania offer?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.