Head-to-head comparison
Cedar Crest College vs UPMC Mercy School of Nursing: which has better ROI?
Option A Allentown, PA
Cedar Crest College
- Net price / year
- $18,659
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,460
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Option B Pittsburgh, PA
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
- Net price / year
- $33,159
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,337
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,636 in 6.6 years versus 6.7 years at Cedar Crest College, on median earnings of $68,337 vs $59,460 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cedar Crest College | UPMC Mercy School of Nursing |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,659 | $33,159 |
| Total net cost | $74,636 | $132,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,460 | $68,337 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $14,750 |
| Payback | 6.7 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $147,364 | $266,904 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cedar Crest College or UPMC Mercy School of Nursing?
Cedar Crest College, at $18,659 a year after aid versus $33,159 — a gap of $14,500 a year, or $58,000 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 Cedar Crest College or UPMC Mercy School of Nursing graduates earn more?
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing graduates report a median $68,337 ten years after entry, $8,877 more than the $59,460 at Cedar Crest 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, Cedar Crest College or UPMC Mercy School of Nursing?
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing: its completers carry a median $14,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Cedar Crest College, a difference of $12,250. 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?
60% of students finish at Cedar Crest College, against 33% at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing. 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.