Thomas Jefferson University vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly: which has better ROI?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $58,384 in 3.9 years versus 4 years at Thomas Jefferson University, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $77,449 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Thomas Jefferson University | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,928 | $14,596 |
| Total net cost | $115,712 | $58,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,449 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $14,744 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $466,068 | $243,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Thomas Jefferson University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly, at $14,596 a year after aid versus $28,928 — a gap of $14,332 a year, or $57,328 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Thomas Jefferson University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly graduates earn more?
Thomas Jefferson University graduates report a median $77,449 ten years after entry, $14,014 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly. 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, Thomas Jefferson University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly?
Thomas Jefferson University: its completers carry a median $14,744 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly, a difference of $10,256. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Thomas Jefferson University, against 39% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly. 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.