Franklin and Marshall College vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York: which has better ROI?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,188 in 5.1 years versus 5.2 years at Franklin and Marshall College, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $76,124 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Franklin and Marshall College | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,425 | $19,047 |
| Total net cost | $145,700 | $76,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,124 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.2 yrs | 5.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $409,580 | $225,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Franklin and Marshall College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York, at $19,047 a year after aid versus $36,425 — a gap of $17,378 a year, or $69,512 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Franklin and Marshall College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York graduates earn more?
Franklin and Marshall College graduates report a median $76,124 ten years after entry, $12,689 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York. 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, Franklin and Marshall College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York?
Franklin and Marshall College: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York, a difference of $6,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Franklin and Marshall College, against 16% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York. 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.