Harrisburg Area Community College vs Bella Capelli Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Harrisburg Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,007 against a $28,942 total, vs $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Harrisburg Area Community College | Bella Capelli Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,471 | $20,459 |
| Total net cost | $28,942 | $81,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,007 | $25,817 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $8,028 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$156,002 | -$532,696 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Harrisburg Area Community College or Bella Capelli Academy?
Harrisburg Area Community College, at $14,471 a year after aid versus $20,459 — a gap of $5,988 a year, or $52,894 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Harrisburg Area Community College or Bella Capelli Academy graduates earn more?
Harrisburg Area Community College graduates report a median $42,007 ten years after entry, $16,190 more than the $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. 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, Harrisburg Area Community College or Bella Capelli Academy?
Bella Capelli Academy: its completers carry a median $8,028 in federal loans versus $17,500 at Harrisburg Area Community College, a difference of $9,472. 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 Bella Capelli Academy, against 21% at Harrisburg Area 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.