Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $113,660 in 4.3 years versus 4.4 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre, on median earnings of $74,572 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre | Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,448 | $28,415 |
| Total net cost | $65,792 | $113,660 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $74,572 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $20,885 |
| Payback | 4.4 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $235,708 | $410,580 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre, at $16,448 a year after aid versus $28,415 — a gap of $11,967 a year, or $47,868 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences graduates report a median $74,572 ten years after entry, $11,137 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. 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, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences?
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences: its completers carry a median $20,885 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre, a difference of $4,115. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, against 23% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. 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.