Head-to-head comparison
Alvernia University vs Delaware Valley University: 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 Doylestown, PA
Delaware Valley University
- Net price / year
- $28,278
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,838
- Payback
- 15.1 yrs
Delaware Valley University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $113,112 in 15.1 years versus 16.8 years at Alvernia University, on median earnings of $55,838 vs $55,055 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvernia University | Delaware Valley University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,138 | $28,278 |
| Total net cost | $112,552 | $113,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,055 | $55,838 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 15.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,348 | $36,448 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alvernia University or Delaware Valley University?
Alvernia University, at $28,138 a year after aid versus $28,278 — a gap of $140 a year, or $560 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 Delaware Valley University graduates earn more?
Delaware Valley University graduates report a median $55,838 ten years after entry, $783 more than the $55,055 at Alvernia 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alvernia University or Delaware Valley University?
Delaware Valley University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alvernia University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
56% of students finish at Delaware Valley University, 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.