Head-to-head comparison
Duquesne University vs Johnson College: 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 Scranton, PA
Johnson College
- Net price / year
- $19,954
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,194
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Duquesne University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $150,920 in 5.7 years versus 5.8 years at Johnson College, on median earnings of $74,742 vs $55,194 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Duquesne University | Johnson College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,730 | $19,954 |
| Total net cost | $150,920 | $39,908 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,742 | $55,194 |
| Median debt | $26,244 | $12,000 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 5.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $376,720 | $96,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Duquesne University or Johnson College?
Johnson College, at $19,954 a year after aid versus $37,730 — a gap of $17,776 a year, or $111,012 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 Johnson College graduates earn more?
Duquesne University graduates report a median $74,742 ten years after entry, $19,548 more than the $55,194 at Johnson 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, Duquesne University or Johnson College?
Johnson College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $26,244 at Duquesne University, a difference of $14,244. 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 55% at Johnson 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.