Bryn Mawr College vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver: which has better ROI?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,672 in 4.6 years versus 4.7 years at Bryn Mawr College, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $75,217 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bryn Mawr College | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,759 | $17,418 |
| Total net cost | $127,036 | $69,672 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,217 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.7 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $410,104 | $231,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bryn Mawr College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver, at $17,418 a year after aid versus $31,759 — a gap of $14,341 a year, or $57,364 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bryn Mawr College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver graduates earn more?
Bryn Mawr College graduates report a median $75,217 ten years after entry, $11,782 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Bryn Mawr College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Bryn Mawr College, against 22% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.