Skip to content
degreedividend.
ROI calculator
Independent college researchBuilt on federal dataNo rankings for sale

Head-to-head comparison

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania vs Westminster College: which has better ROI?

Public, Bloomsburg PA · vs · Private nonprofit, New Wilmington PA

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Option A Bloomsburg, PA

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Net price / year
$15,699
Earnings, 10 years
$52,416
Payback
15.5 yrs

Option B New Wilmington, PA

Westminster College

Net price / year
$19,859
Earnings, 10 years
$53,861
Payback
14.4 yrs
The verdict

Westminster College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $79,436 in 14.4 years versus 15.5 years at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, on median earnings of $53,861 vs $52,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaWestminster College
Net price / yr$15,699$19,859
Total net cost$62,796$79,436
Median earnings, 10 yrs$52,416$53,861
Median debt$26,000$26,060
Payback15.5 yrs14.4 yrs
20-year net return$18,324$30,584

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 Westminster College?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, at $15,699 a year after aid versus $19,859 — a gap of $4,160 a year, or $16,640 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 Westminster College graduates earn more?

Westminster College graduates report a median $53,861 ten years after entry, $1,445 more than the $52,416 at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. 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 Westminster College?

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,060 at Westminster College, a difference of $60. 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?

65% of students finish at Westminster College, 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.

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania vs Westminster College: frequently asked questions

Is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Westminster College a better value?
Westminster College. It clears its $79,436 net cost in about 14.4 years versus 15.5 years at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, on median earnings of $53,861 vs $52,416 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Westminster College?
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania: $15,699/yr net price after aid versus $19,859/yr at Westminster College — a difference of $4,160 a year, or about $16,640 over four years.
Do Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania or Westminster College graduates earn more?
Westminster College graduates earn a median $53,861 ten years after entry, versus $52,416 at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania — a $1,445 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.