Bucks County Community College vs New Castle School of Trades: which has better ROI?
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 $44,814 at New Castle School of Trades. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bucks County Community College | New Castle School of Trades |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,389 | $8,361 |
| Total net cost | $12,778 | $16,722 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,324 | $44,814 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $9,567 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$33,498 | -$87,642 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bucks County Community College or New Castle School of Trades?
Bucks County Community College, at $6,389 a year after aid versus $8,361 — a gap of $1,972 a year, or $3,944 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 New Castle School of Trades graduates earn more?
Bucks County Community College graduates report a median $47,324 ten years after entry, $2,510 more than the $44,814 at New Castle School of Trades. 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 New Castle School of Trades?
New Castle School of Trades: its completers carry a median $9,567 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Bucks County Community College, a difference of $2,433. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at New Castle School of Trades, 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.