Head-to-head comparison
Bucknell University vs Haverford College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lewisburg, PA
Bucknell University
- Net price / year
- $40,766
- Earnings, 10 years
- $93,807
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Haverford, PA
Haverford College
- Net price / year
- $25,314
- Earnings, 10 years
- $79,966
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Haverford College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,256 in 3.2 years versus 3.6 years at Bucknell University, on median earnings of $79,966 vs $93,807 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bucknell University | Haverford College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,766 | $25,314 |
| Total net cost | $163,064 | $101,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $93,807 | $79,966 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $13,621 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $745,876 | $530,864 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bucknell University or Haverford College?
Haverford College, at $25,314 a year after aid versus $40,766 — a gap of $15,452 a year, or $61,808 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 Bucknell University or Haverford College graduates earn more?
Bucknell University graduates report a median $93,807 ten years after entry, $13,841 more than the $79,966 at Haverford 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, Bucknell University or Haverford College?
Haverford College: its completers carry a median $13,621 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bucknell University, a difference of $13,379. 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?
90% of students finish at Haverford College, 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.