Head-to-head comparison
Alvernia University vs Peirce College: 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 Philadelphia, PA
Peirce College
- Net price / year
- $12,148
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,660
- Payback
- 21.1 yrs
Alvernia University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,552 in 16.8 years versus 21.1 years at Peirce College, on median earnings of $55,055 vs $50,660 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alvernia University | Peirce College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,138 | $12,148 |
| Total net cost | $112,552 | $48,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,055 | $50,660 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $31,250 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 21.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,348 | -$2,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alvernia University or Peirce College?
Peirce College, at $12,148 a year after aid versus $28,138 — a gap of $15,990 a year, or $63,960 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 Peirce College graduates earn more?
Alvernia University graduates report a median $55,055 ten years after entry, $4,395 more than the $50,660 at Peirce 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alvernia University or Peirce College?
Alvernia University: its completers carry a median $27,000 in federal loans versus $31,250 at Peirce College, a difference of $4,250. 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 Alvernia University, against 10% at Peirce College. 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.