Head-to-head comparison
Carlow University vs Thiel College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Carlow University
- Net price / year
- $20,786
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,051
- Payback
- 30.9 yrs
Option B Greenville, PA
Thiel College
- Net price / year
- $22,347
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,714
- Payback
- 66 yrs
Carlow University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,144 in 30.9 years versus 66 years at Thiel College, on median earnings of $51,051 vs $49,714 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carlow University | Thiel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,786 | $22,347 |
| Total net cost | $83,144 | $89,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,051 | $49,714 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 30.9 yrs | 66 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$29,324 | -$62,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carlow University or Thiel College?
Carlow University, at $20,786 a year after aid versus $22,347 — a gap of $1,561 a year, or $6,244 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 Carlow University or Thiel College graduates earn more?
Carlow University graduates report a median $51,051 ten years after entry, $1,337 more than the $49,714 at Thiel 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, Carlow University or Thiel College?
Carlow University: its completers carry a median $25,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Thiel College, a difference of $1,500. 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?
60% of students finish at Carlow University, against 49% at Thiel 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.