Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Perched above the Susquehanna valley, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's Bloomsburg campus feels like a classic college town hub with a practical streak. It's known for strong teaching across the arts and sciences, business, education, health, and technology, with a focus on doing the work: labs, studios, clinical settings, and real projects that show up on a résumé. Students lean on advising, tutoring, writing support, counseling, and a resource-packed library, plus active residence life, a busy rec center, and plenty of study nooks when you need a quiet corner.
Campus culture is friendly, hands-on, and spirited. You'll find clubs, service groups, music and theater, and weekend trips to nearby state parks and river trails. And downtown brings coffee shops and a respected local theater ensemble, with the Bloomsburg Fair adding a burst of small-town tradition. Career prep has a reputation for tight ties to regional schools, hospitals, and businesses, and the multi-campus structure widens the network you can tap. Notable alumni include NFL linemen Jahri Evans and Matt Feiler.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) offers 75 degree programs across 21 major academic fields, graduating approximately 2,688 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Health (15 programs, 682 graduates), Business (7 programs, 494 graduates), Education (8 programs, 368 graduates), Security & Safety (3 programs, 190 graduates) and Psychology (1 programs, 140 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Health (15 programs, 682 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 256 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.3801 |
| Health and Medical Preparatory Programs | 132 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
51.1199 |
| Mental Health Counseling | 72 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
51.1508 |
| Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology | 55 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0204 |
| Physician Assistant | 53 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
51.0912 |
| Medical Radiologic Technology | 34 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
51.0907 |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 28 |
|
Master's
|
51.0203 |
| Nursing Practice | 16 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.3818 |
| Athletic Training | 11 |
|
Master's
|
51.0913 |
| Clinical Nutrition | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.3102 |
| Audiology | 6 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
51.0202 |
| Health Professions and Related Sciences | 5 |
|
Associate's
|
51.9999 |
| Respiratory Care Therapy | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0908 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.2208 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2399 |
Business (7 programs, 494 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 361 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.0201 |
| Accounting | 45 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0203 |
| Sales Skills and Operations | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1804 |
| Business Administration and Management | 18 |
|
Master's
|
52.0299 |
| International Business and Trade | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1101 |
| Business Administration | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0101 |
Education (8 programs, 368 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education | 135 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1210 |
| Special Education Teaching | 89 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1001 |
| Instructional Technology | 46 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13.0501 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching | 33 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1205 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 26 |
|
Master's
|
13.0401 |
| Middle School Education and Teaching | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1203 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 16 |
|
Master's
|
13.0301 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6 |
|
Master's
|
13.1315 |
Security & Safety (3 programs, 190 graduates)
Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Administration | 68 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
43.0103 |
| Criminal Justice and Safety Studies | 61 |
|
Bachelor's
|
43.0104 |
| Cyber and Computer Forensics | 61 |
|
Bachelor's
|
43.0403 |
Psychology (1 programs, 140 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 140 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
Kinesiology (5 programs, 120 graduates)
Exercise Science, Sports Medicine and Physical Recreation
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education Fitness | 50 |
|
Bachelor's
|
31.0599 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education | 32 |
|
Master's
|
31.0501 |
| Sport and Fitness Management | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
|
31.0504 |
| Parks and Recreation Management | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
31.0301 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 5 |
|
Master's
|
31.0505 |
Communication (2 programs, 103 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies | 53 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0100 |
| Mass Communication and Media Studies | 50 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0102 |
Biological Sciences (1 programs, 81 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 81 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26.0101 |
Public Services (1 programs, 80 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 80 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44.0701 |
Social Sciences (7 programs, 77 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1001 |
| Economics | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0601 |
| Anthropology | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0201 |
| Sociology | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1101 |
| Social Sciences | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.9999 |
| Social Sciences | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0101 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 2 |
|
Other Award
|
45.0702 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)
How much does it cost to attend Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)?
The annual tuition at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) is $11,046 for in-state students and $22,870 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $26,470 for in-state students and $38,294 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $11,106 (on) / $10,616 (off) and books and supplies $1,200.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania offer?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) offers 75 academic programs across 21 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Professional), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (15 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (7 programs)
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (8 programs)
- Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety (3 programs)
- Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (1 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) has an 94.7% acceptance rate and a 33.2% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 7,733
- Students admitted: 7,327
- Students enrolled: 2,434
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) provides financial aid to 20% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $7,578 and average loans of $8,544.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,084
- State/Local grants: $4,272
- Institutional grants: $4,379
- Federal loans: $5,233
The university supports 1,793 students with grants and 1,554 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduates?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) graduates earn a median salary of $44,053 after 6 years and $52,416 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $35,693 (25th percentile) to $72,563 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $75,900 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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