Head-to-head comparison
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania vs Automotive Training Center-Exton: which has better ROI?
Option A Bloomsburg, PA
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
- Net price / year
- $15,699
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,416
- Payback
- 15.5 yrs
Option B Exton, PA
Automotive Training Center-Exton
- Net price / year
- $12,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,112
- Payback
- 18.3 yrs
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,796 in 15.5 years versus 18.3 years at Automotive Training Center-Exton, on median earnings of $52,416 vs $51,112 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Automotive Training Center-Exton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,699 | $12,578 |
| Total net cost | $62,796 | $50,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,416 | $51,112 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $15,665 |
| Payback | 15.5 yrs | 18.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $18,324 | $4,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Automotive Training Center-Exton?
Automotive Training Center-Exton, at $12,578 a year after aid versus $15,699 — a gap of $3,121 a year, or $12,484 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 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Automotive Training Center-Exton graduates earn more?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania graduates report a median $52,416 ten years after entry, $1,304 more than the $51,112 at Automotive Training Center-Exton. 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, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Automotive Training Center-Exton?
Automotive Training Center-Exton: its completers carry a median $15,665 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, a difference of $10,335. 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?
68% of students finish at Automotive Training Center-Exton, against 54% at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. 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.