Bryn Mawr College vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley: which has better ROI?
Bryn Mawr College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,036 in 4.7 years versus 4.8 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley, on median earnings of $75,217 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bryn Mawr College | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,759 | $18,220 |
| Total net cost | $127,036 | $72,880 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,217 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.7 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $410,104 | $228,620 |
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 Lehigh Valley?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley, at $18,220 a year after aid versus $31,759 — a gap of $13,539 a year, or $54,156 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 Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley. 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 Lehigh Valley?
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 18% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley. 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.