Head-to-head comparison
Bucknell University vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly: 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 Lemont Furnace, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
- Net price / year
- $14,596
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Bucknell University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $163,064 in 3.6 years versus 3.9 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly, on median earnings of $93,807 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bucknell University | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,766 | $14,596 |
| Total net cost | $163,064 | $58,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $93,807 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $745,876 | $243,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bucknell University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly, at $14,596 a year after aid versus $40,766 — a gap of $26,170 a year, or $104,680 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly graduates earn more?
Bucknell University graduates report a median $93,807 ten years after entry, $30,372 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly. 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bucknell 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?
86% of students finish at Bucknell University, against 39% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly. 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.