Peirce College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Peirce College charges a net price of $12,148/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $48,592. Graduates earn a median $50,660 ten years after entry, $2,300/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 21.1 years — a 20-year net return of -$2,592, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Peirce College's 21.1-year payback ranks #1,074 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 16% of them, and #99 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,148/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $48,592 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $50,660 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,300/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $31,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 21.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$2,592 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Peirce College's own numbers. Net price $12,148 × 4 years = $48,592 total. Median earnings $50,660 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,300 a year of premium. $48,592 ÷ $2,300 = 21.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$2,592. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Peirce College students graduate with?
A median $31,250 in federal loans among completers, or 62% of the $50,660 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Peirce College students graduate?
10% finish their degree — 90% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $48,592 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $485,920 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Peirce College expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $12,148 net price runs $9,593 below the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, and $38,372 less across the full degree.