Head-to-head comparison
Lackawanna College vs All-State Career School: which has better ROI?
Option A Scranton, PA
Lackawanna College
- Net price / year
- $19,951
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,000
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Essington, PA
All-State Career School
- Net price / year
- $18,205
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,495
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lackawanna College comes closer — median earnings $41,000 against a $39,902 total, vs $38,495 at All-State Career School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lackawanna College | All-State Career School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,951 | $18,205 |
| Total net cost | $39,902 | $72,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,000 | $38,495 |
| Median debt | $18,075 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$187,102 | -$270,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lackawanna College or All-State Career School?
All-State Career School, at $18,205 a year after aid versus $19,951 — a gap of $1,746 a year, or $32,918 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 Lackawanna College or All-State Career School graduates earn more?
Lackawanna College graduates report a median $41,000 ten years after entry, $2,505 more than the $38,495 at All-State Career School. 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, Lackawanna College or All-State Career School?
All-State Career School: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $18,075 at Lackawanna College, a difference of $11,742. 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?
53% of students finish at All-State Career School, against 37% at Lackawanna 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.