Temple University vs Elizabethtown College: which has better ROI?
Temple University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,792 in 7.3 years versus 7.6 years at Elizabethtown College, on median earnings of $63,727 vs $62,399 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Temple University | Elizabethtown College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,198 | $26,598 |
| Total net cost | $112,792 | $106,392 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,727 | $62,399 |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $194,548 | $174,388 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Temple University or Elizabethtown College?
Elizabethtown College, at $26,598 a year after aid versus $28,198 — a gap of $1,600 a year, or $6,400 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Temple University or Elizabethtown College graduates earn more?
Temple University graduates report a median $63,727 ten years after entry, $1,328 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, Temple University or Elizabethtown College?
Temple University: its completers carry a median $24,395 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Elizabethtown College, a difference of $2,605. 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 Elizabethtown College, against 75% at Temple University. 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.