Head-to-head comparison
Duquesne University vs Gwynedd Mercy University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Duquesne University
- Net price / year
- $37,730
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,742
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Gwynedd Valley, PA
Gwynedd Mercy University
- Net price / year
- $27,483
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,145
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Duquesne University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $150,920 in 5.7 years versus 5.9 years at Gwynedd Mercy University, on median earnings of $74,742 vs $67,145 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Duquesne University | Gwynedd Mercy University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,730 | $27,483 |
| Total net cost | $150,920 | $109,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,742 | $67,145 |
| Median debt | $26,244 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 5.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $376,720 | $265,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Duquesne University or Gwynedd Mercy University?
Gwynedd Mercy University, at $27,483 a year after aid versus $37,730 — a gap of $10,247 a year, or $40,988 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 Duquesne University or Gwynedd Mercy University graduates earn more?
Duquesne University graduates report a median $74,742 ten years after entry, $7,597 more than the $67,145 at Gwynedd Mercy University. 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, Duquesne University or Gwynedd Mercy University?
Gwynedd Mercy University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,244 at Duquesne University, a difference of $1,244. 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?
77% of students finish at Duquesne University, against 57% at Gwynedd Mercy University. 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.