Reading Area Community College vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Reading Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,082 against a $18,456 total, vs $40,457 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Reading Area Community College | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,228 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $18,456 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,082 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,016 | -$240,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Reading Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Reading Area Community College, at $9,228 a year after aid versus $20,586 — a gap of $11,358 a year, or $63,888 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Reading Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates report a median $40,457 ten years after entry, $1,375 more than the $39,082 at Reading Area Community 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, Reading Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Reading Area Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, a difference of $13,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, against 34% at Reading 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.