Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Bucks County Community College vs Great Lakes Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?

Public, Newtown PA · vs · Private for-profit, Erie PA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bucks County Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,324 against a $12,778 total, vs $28,704 at Great Lakes Institute of Technology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureBucks County Community CollegeGreat Lakes Institute of Technology
Net price / yr$6,389$17,540
Total net cost$12,778$70,160
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,324$28,704
Median debt$12,000$11,250
Payback
20-year net return-$33,498-$463,280

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology?

Bucks County Community College, at $6,389 a year after aid versus $17,540 — a gap of $11,151 a year, or $57,382 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology graduates earn more?

Bucks County Community College graduates report a median $47,324 ten years after entry, $18,620 more than the $28,704 at Great Lakes Institute of Technology. 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, Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology?

Great Lakes Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Bucks County Community College, a difference of $750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

64% of students finish at Great Lakes Institute of Technology, against 32% at Bucks County Community College. 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.

Bucks County Community College vs Great Lakes Institute of Technology: frequently asked questions

Is Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology a better value?
Bucks County Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology?
Bucks County Community College: $6,389/yr net price after aid versus $17,540/yr at Great Lakes Institute of Technology — a difference of $11,151 a year, or about $57,382 over four years.
Do Bucks County Community College or Great Lakes Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Bucks County Community College graduates earn a median $47,324 ten years after entry, versus $28,704 at Great Lakes Institute of Technology — a $18,620 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.