Head-to-head comparison
Dickinson College vs Cedar Crest College: which has better ROI?
Option A Carlisle, PA
Dickinson College
- Net price / year
- $37,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,204
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Allentown, PA
Cedar Crest College
- Net price / year
- $18,659
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,460
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Cedar Crest College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,636 in 6.7 years versus 6.9 years at Dickinson College, on median earnings of $59,460 vs $70,204 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dickinson College | Cedar Crest College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,607 | $18,659 |
| Total net cost | $150,428 | $74,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,204 | $59,460 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,452 | $147,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dickinson College or Cedar Crest College?
Cedar Crest College, at $18,659 a year after aid versus $37,607 — a gap of $18,948 a year, or $75,792 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 Dickinson College or Cedar Crest College graduates earn more?
Dickinson College graduates report a median $70,204 ten years after entry, $10,744 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, Dickinson College or Cedar Crest College?
Dickinson College: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Cedar Crest College, a difference of $8,000. 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?
80% of students finish at Dickinson College, against 60% at Cedar Crest College. 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.