Head-to-head comparison
Gettysburg College vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto: which has better ROI?
Option A Gettysburg, PA
Gettysburg College
- Net price / year
- $31,490
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,517
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Mont Alto, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
- Net price / year
- $19,454
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,816 in 5.2 years versus 5.4 years at Gettysburg College, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $71,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gettysburg College | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,490 | $19,454 |
| Total net cost | $125,960 | $77,816 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,517 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $26,999 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $337,180 | $223,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gettysburg College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto, at $19,454 a year after aid versus $31,490 — a gap of $12,036 a year, or $48,144 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 Gettysburg College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto graduates earn more?
Gettysburg College graduates report a median $71,517 ten years after entry, $8,082 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto. 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, Gettysburg College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,999 at Gettysburg College, a difference of $1,999. 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?
83% of students finish at Gettysburg College, against 34% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto. 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.