Head-to-head comparison
Alvernia University vs Automotive Training Center-Exton: which has better ROI?
Option A Reading, PA
Alvernia University
- Net price / year
- $28,138
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,055
- Payback
- 16.8 yrs
Option B Exton, PA
Automotive Training Center-Exton
- Net price / year
- $12,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,112
- Payback
- 18.3 yrs
Alvernia University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,552 in 16.8 years versus 18.3 years at Automotive Training Center-Exton, on median earnings of $55,055 vs $51,112 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvernia University | Automotive Training Center-Exton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,138 | $12,578 |
| Total net cost | $112,552 | $50,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,055 | $51,112 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $15,665 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 18.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,348 | $4,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alvernia University or Automotive Training Center-Exton?
Automotive Training Center-Exton, at $12,578 a year after aid versus $28,138 — a gap of $15,560 a year, or $62,240 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alvernia University or Automotive Training Center-Exton graduates earn more?
Alvernia University graduates report a median $55,055 ten years after entry, $3,943 more than the $51,112 at Automotive Training Center-Exton. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alvernia University or Automotive Training Center-Exton?
Automotive Training Center-Exton: its completers carry a median $15,665 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alvernia University, a difference of $11,335. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Automotive Training Center-Exton, against 56% at Alvernia 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.