Head-to-head comparison
Lafayette College vs University of Pittsburgh-Bradford: which has better ROI?
Option A Easton, PA
Lafayette College
- Net price / year
- $34,433
- Earnings, 10 years
- $91,410
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Option B Bradford, PA
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
- Net price / year
- $15,350
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,125
- Payback
- 3.5 yrs
Lafayette College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $137,732 in 3.2 years versus 3.5 years at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, on median earnings of $91,410 vs $66,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lafayette College | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,433 | $15,350 |
| Total net cost | $137,732 | $61,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $91,410 | $66,125 |
| Median debt | $16,000 | $24,250 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $723,268 | $293,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lafayette College or University of Pittsburgh-Bradford?
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, at $15,350 a year after aid versus $34,433 — a gap of $19,083 a year, or $76,332 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 Lafayette College or University of Pittsburgh-Bradford graduates earn more?
Lafayette College graduates report a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $25,285 more than the $66,125 at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. 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, Lafayette College or University of Pittsburgh-Bradford?
Lafayette College: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $24,250 at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, a difference of $8,250. 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?
88% of students finish at Lafayette College, against 48% at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. 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.