Head-to-head comparison
Luzerne County Community College vs Bella Capelli Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Nanticoke, PA
Luzerne County Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,433
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,437
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Monroeville, PA
Bella Capelli Academy
- Net price / year
- $20,459
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,817
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Luzerne County Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,437 against a $18,866 total, vs $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Luzerne County Community College | Bella Capelli Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,433 | $20,459 |
| Total net cost | $18,866 | $81,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,437 | $25,817 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $8,028 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$177,326 | -$532,696 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Luzerne County Community College or Bella Capelli Academy?
Luzerne County Community College, at $9,433 a year after aid versus $20,459 — a gap of $11,026 a year, or $62,970 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 Luzerne County Community College or Bella Capelli Academy graduates earn more?
Luzerne County Community College graduates report a median $40,437 ten years after entry, $14,620 more than the $25,817 at Bella Capelli Academy. 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, Luzerne County Community College or Bella Capelli Academy?
Bella Capelli Academy: its completers carry a median $8,028 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Luzerne County Community College, a difference of $2,972. 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?
76% of students finish at Bella Capelli Academy, against 23% at Luzerne County 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.