Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Allegheny County vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Community College of Allegheny County
- Net price / year
- $13,970
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,449
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bryn Athyn, PA
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
- Net price / year
- $20,586
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,457
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Allegheny County comes closer — median earnings $39,449 against a $27,940 total, vs $40,457 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Allegheny County | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,970 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $27,940 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,449 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $12,680 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$206,160 | -$240,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Community College of Allegheny County or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Community College of Allegheny County, at $13,970 a year after aid versus $20,586 — a gap of $6,616 a year, or $54,404 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 Community College of Allegheny County or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates report a median $40,457 ten years after entry, $1,008 more than the $39,449 at Community College of Allegheny County. 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, Community College of Allegheny County or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Community College of Allegheny County: its completers carry a median $12,680 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, a difference of $9,570. 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 Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, against 24% at Community College of Allegheny County. 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.