Head-to-head comparison
Harrisburg Area Community College vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg Area Community College
- Net price / year
- $14,471
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,007
- 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 Harrisburg Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,007 against a $28,942 total, vs $40,457 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Harrisburg Area Community College | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,471 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $28,942 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,007 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$156,002 | -$240,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Harrisburg Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Harrisburg Area Community College, at $14,471 a year after aid versus $20,586 — a gap of $6,115 a year, or $53,402 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 Harrisburg Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Harrisburg Area Community College graduates report a median $42,007 ten years after entry, $1,550 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, Harrisburg Area Community College or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Harrisburg Area Community College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, a difference of $4,750. 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 21% at Harrisburg Area Community 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.