Elizabethtown College vs Lebanon Valley College: which has better ROI?
Lebanon Valley College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $107,916 in 7.6 years versus 7.6 years at Elizabethtown College, on median earnings of $62,621 vs $62,399 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elizabethtown College | Lebanon Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,598 | $26,979 |
| Total net cost | $106,392 | $107,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,399 | $62,621 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.6 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $174,388 | $177,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Elizabethtown College or Lebanon Valley College?
Elizabethtown College, at $26,598 a year after aid versus $26,979 — a gap of $381 a year, or $1,524 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Elizabethtown College or Lebanon Valley College graduates earn more?
Lebanon Valley College graduates report a median $62,621 ten years after entry, $222 more than the $62,399 at Elizabethtown College. 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, Elizabethtown College or Lebanon Valley College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, 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?
76% of students finish at Elizabethtown College, against 65% at Lebanon Valley 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.