Admit rate has ranged 26%–89% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Central Penn College is a small, career-focused institution in Summerdale, PA, with a surprisingly competitive admissions process (acceptance rates hover around 18-34%) and a tight-knit, supportive community. Known for its hands-on programs in fields like occupational therapy and business, it delivers practical education with a graduation rate of 30-36%—modest but reflective of its non-traditional student population. The college’s affordability (net price around $18,681 after aid) and $1M+ in annual scholarships make it a pragmatic choice for career-minded students.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
662
In-state tuition
$19,854
Out-of-state tuition
$19,854
Founded
1881
Location
Summerdale, PA
Notable Fact
Named 7th most popular college in PA (Research.com)
Acceptance Rate
18-34%
Female Students
67.1%
4-Year Graduation Rate
30-36%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$45,370
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$23,194
Graduation rate
51%
First-year retention
65%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
42%
Pell (lower-income) share
68%
First-generation share
51%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,673
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
87
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
43.6"
Annual snow
19.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
14
Scholarly works
83
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.6%
Bottom → top quintile
6%
From bottom quintile
9%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Central Penn College?
Central Penn College's acceptance rate is approximately 18% (Summerdale, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Central Penn College cost?
At Central Penn College, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,953 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Central Penn College?
Central Penn College enrolls approximately 662 undergraduate students.
Where is Central Penn College located?
Central Penn College is located in Summerdale, PA.
Admissions
Central Penn College’s admissions process is more selective than its small size might suggest, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 18% (per U.S. News) to 34% (Testbook), depending on the year and source. Notably, SAT/ACT scores are not required but are 'preferred' for transfer students, emphasizing flexibility for non-traditional applicants. The college enrolled 671 students from a pool of 1,208 applicants in one recent cycle (Peterson’s), and it was named Pennsylvania’s 7th 'most popular' college by Research.com—a nod to its appeal among career-focused students. The student body skews heavily female (67.1%, per U.S. News), reflecting trends in its health sciences and business programs.
Central Penn leans hard into career-ready education, offering certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees—all with a 'hands-on' ethos. Programs like Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) require core courses to be taken on-campus, ensuring technical rigor. The college’s 35% four-year graduation rate (U.S. News) is low but typical for institutions serving many working adults. Niche gives academics a B+, praising its 'career-focused' approach, while U.S. News highlights its strength in business and health professions. The curriculum is pragmatic: think less theory, more applied skills, with degrees like Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Management (a standout per Penn College’s catalog).
With just 806 undergraduates (fall 2023), Central Penn fosters a 'friendly community' (per its website) where faculty know students by name. The campus vibe is supportive but no party school—Niche gives the 'Party Scene' a B-. Diversity earns a B+, with students citing an 'inclusive environment' (Niche reviews). The college punches above its weight in amenities: a 200-seat theater, student union, and apartment-style dorms (Facebook virtual tour). Two-thirds of students are women, creating a tight-knit culture centered on clubs and career prep rather than Greek life. It’s the kind of place where 'supportive atmosphere' isn’t just marketing—it’s a necessity for students juggling jobs and classes.
Central Penn’s outcomes are a mixed bag: its 30-36% graduation rate (sources vary) reflects the challenges of serving non-traditional students, but the college leans into its career-prep mission. The '150% of normal time' graduation metric (used for federal reporting) shows modest completion rates, though specifics by program aren’t publicly broken down. Notably, the college emphasizes job placement in fields like healthcare and business, though hard employment stats are elusive. For students who persist, the payoff is practical—degrees designed to align with local employer needs, particularly in central Pennsylvania’s trades and service sectors.
Central Penn’s sticker price ($19,854 in-state/out-of-state, per Niche) is mitigated by aggressive aid: the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $18,681 after scholarships and grants (BigFuture), with $1M+ in institutional aid awarded annually. The college’s Net Price Calculator helps families estimate true costs, though individual packages vary. For comparison, Sallie Mae lists an average aid package of $10,093 (Niche), making it a relative bargain among Pennsylvania’s private colleges. The message is clear: Central Penn works to keep debt manageable for its career-focused demographic, many of whom are First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. or working adults.
Central Penn’s edge is its unapologetic focus on turning students into employable graduates—fast. Its 18% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (U.S. News) signals surprising selectivity for a small career college, while its 7th-place 'most popular' ranking in Pennsylvania (Research.com) hints at strong regional appeal. The college thrives on pragmatism: no-frills academics, flexible admissions (Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight.), and a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. ($18,681) that undercuts many liberal arts colleges. For students who want a direct path to a paycheck—and a community that supports them through it—Central Penn delivers. Just don’t expect ivy-covered halls: here, the 200-seat theater doubles as a classroom, and 'success' is measured in job offers, not PhDs.
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