Understanding Pennsylvania College of Technology Tuition and Fees

For students and their families, understanding the cost of higher education is paramount. Pennsylvania College of Technology, a medium-sized public institution located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, offers undergraduate degrees in a variety of majors. This article breaks down the tuition, fees, financial aid options, and overall costs associated with attending Penn College.

Cost of Attendance: The Sticker Price

The "Cost of Attendance" represents the total amount of money the average student pays before financial aid. It's essentially the school's sticker price. This cost differs for in-state and out-of-state students, with in-state residents generally benefiting from lower tuition rates.

In-State Tuition: \$15,900 per year
Out-of-State Tuition: \$23,850 per year

Additional Expenses

Beyond tuition, students should budget for other costs:

Books and Supplies: \$1,400 per year
Personal Expenses: \$2,880 per year
Transportation: \$468 per year

2025-2026 Tuition Adjustments

The Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Board of Directors approved a total budget of \$188.4 million for 2025-26, reflecting a 0.3% increase over 2024-25. The college’s approved operating budget is \$134.3 million, a 3.75% increase.

Tuition for in-state residents will be \$530 per credit, a 2.91% increase over 2024-25. When combined with unchanged fees, the increase is limited to 2.47%.

In 2025-26, tuition and fees combined will be \$18,690 annually for a typical Pennsylvania resident student enrolled for two 15-credit semesters. For non-Pennsylvania residents taking the same credit load, the total will be \$26,640 annually.

To keep pace with inflation, Residence Life’s student housing rates and Dining Services’ meal plan rates will both increase by 2% in 2025-26.

Breaking Down Tuition and Fees

Basic tuition and fees are charged for each credit hour of instruction scheduled per semester, regardless of the mode of instruction.

Tuition (In-state): \$530/credit hour
Tuition (Out-of-State): \$795/credit hour

All students enrolled in an online degree program will receive the in-state tuition rate.

Mandatory Fees

Capital Fee: \$49/credit hour - Funds capital projects, academic facilities, activities, fitness, and recreation facilities, as well as campus facilities maintenance and improvement.
Technology Fee: \$23/credit hour - Provides direct support to the technology infrastructure.
Instructional Lab Hours: \$60/lab hour - Assessed in recognition of the additional costs associated with laboratory and/or clinical instruction, including additional instructional and preparation time, lab activities, clinical experiences, lab equipment, and instructional supplies.

Program-Specific Fees

Online Instructional & Testing Resources: (up to \$3,000 spread over the program's semesters for students enrolled in the prelicensure nursing programs) - Includes online learning resources, screen-based simulations, content-based assessments, and a comprehensive content review for NCLEX preparation.
PA Program Fee: (\$2,990 spread over the curriculum) - Covers AAPA and PSPA Student Memberships, online student learning resources, PAEA assessments, PANCE style question banks, clinical site registration fees, clinical rotation fees, and a summer PANCE board review course.
Travel Fee: (varies depending on course) - Covers logistical costs associated with the travel component of the course but does not include individual discretionary spending.

One-Time and Miscellaneous Fees

New Student Enrollment Fee: \$140 - One-time fee for new degree-seeking students to cover matriculation costs.
International Matriculation Fee: \$500 - Covers the New Student Enrollment Fee plus additional services for international students, including immigration compliance documentation and reporting.
Deferred Payment Fee: \$30 - Covers registration for the College's deferred payment plan.
Late Fee: \$50 - Assessed when a student's initial tuition payment is not received by the due date.
Delinquent Fee: One-time 5% fee assessed to any bill balance still outstanding following the 12th week of the semester.

Housing and Dining

Housing: Costs vary based on the on-campus resident life facility.
Dining Plan Account: All resident students must select a board plan as part of their housing contract. First-year resident students may select a 19- or 14-meal board plan.

Financial Aid: Making College Affordable

Financial aid includes grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study jobs. Packages vary based on financial need, primarily determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 67.78%
Average Aid Package: \$9,330

Types of Aid

Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award: Scholarships and grants do not need to be paid back.

Average Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award: \$3,994Need-Based Loan Amount: Loans must be paid back.

Institutional Efforts to Mitigate Costs

Penn College has made efforts to lessen the financial impact on students. Scholarship assistance awarded by the college and the Penn College Foundation has risen by 132% in the past five years, with the average award amount increasing by nearly 40%. There are currently 388 scholarships available through the foundation and the college.

The Momentum Incentive Program locks in the tuition rate for first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree students with fall semester starts who maintain continuous enrollment and a 3.0 GPA.

The Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, offered by PHEAA starting in the 2025-26 academic year, enables Pennsylvania residents enrolled in pre-qualified Penn College majors to be potentially eligible for grants of up to \$5,000 per year for a maximum of four academic years.

Understanding Net Price

The Net Price is the actual out-of-pocket cost a student pays after subtracting grants and scholarships from the total cost of attendance. It's personalized based on individual circumstances and the college's financial aid policies. Using the college's Net Price calculator provides the most accurate estimate.

Read also: Penn State Admission: Average ACT

Average Net Price: \$23,030 per year

Loans and Debt

Student loans are a common way to finance college, but minimizing debt is crucial.

Students Taking Out Federal Loans: 70%
Average Annual Federal Loan Amount: \$5,703
Students Taking Out Private Loans: 17%
Average Private Loan Amount: \$13,905

Value and Rankings

Pennsylvania College of Technology was recently designated an “Opportunity College” by the Carnegie Classifications, exemplifying its commitment to student success.

While it may not be a household name nationwide, it's known in the local area as a solid school.

Additional Financial Considerations

Included in the 2024-25 budget are voluntary gifts of \$100,000 to the City of Williamsport and \$35,000 to the Williamsport Area School District.

Penn College’s state appropriation is budgeted at \$35.67 million, based on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 state budget proposal, which calls for the college to receive a 5% increase. The projected appropriation accounts for 18.9% of the total budget and 26.5% of the operating budget.

Total student enrollment for Fall 2025 is projected to increase by 125 students over Fall 2024’s total of 4,575.

The college’s total budget includes revenue-generating auxiliary fund budgets (Workforce Development, Residence Life, Dining Services, Dunham Children’s Learning Center, The College Store), as well as the restricted current fund budget (grants, contracts and restricted donations).

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