Villanova University vs Bucknell University: which has better ROI?
Villanova University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $175,024 in 3.4 years versus 3.6 years at Bucknell University, on median earnings of $100,423 vs $93,807 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Villanova University | Bucknell University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $43,756 | $40,766 |
| Total net cost | $175,024 | $163,064 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $100,423 | $93,807 |
| Median debt | $25,874 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $866,236 | $745,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Villanova University or Bucknell University?
Bucknell University, at $40,766 a year after aid versus $43,756 — a gap of $2,990 a year, or $11,960 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Villanova University or Bucknell University graduates earn more?
Villanova University graduates report a median $100,423 ten years after entry, $6,616 more than the $93,807 at Bucknell University. 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, Villanova University or Bucknell University?
Villanova University: its completers carry a median $25,874 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bucknell University, a difference of $1,126. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
92% of students finish at Villanova University, against 86% at Bucknell 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.