Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Philadelphia vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Community College of Philadelphia
- Net price / year
- $11,911
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,852
- 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 Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $40,852 against a $23,822 total, vs $40,457 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Philadelphia | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,911 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $23,822 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,852 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $10,750 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$173,982 | -$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 Philadelphia or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Community College of Philadelphia, at $11,911 a year after aid versus $20,586 — a gap of $8,675 a year, or $58,522 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 Philadelphia or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Community College of Philadelphia graduates report a median $40,852 ten years after entry, $395 more than the $40,457 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. 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 Philadelphia or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Community College of Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $10,750 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, a difference of $11,500. 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?
68% of students finish at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, against 24% at Community College of Philadelphia. 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.