Head-to-head comparison
Mercyhurst University vs All-State Career School: which has better ROI?
Option A Erie, PA
Mercyhurst University
- Net price / year
- $19,444
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,452
- 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 Mercyhurst University comes closer — median earnings $47,452 against a $77,776 total, vs $38,495 at All-State Career School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mercyhurst University | All-State Career School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,444 | $18,205 |
| Total net cost | $77,776 | $72,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,452 | $38,495 |
| Median debt | $25,305 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$95,936 | -$270,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mercyhurst University or All-State Career School?
All-State Career School, at $18,205 a year after aid versus $19,444 — a gap of $1,239 a year, or $4,956 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 Mercyhurst University or All-State Career School graduates earn more?
Mercyhurst University graduates report a median $47,452 ten years after entry, $8,957 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, Mercyhurst University or All-State Career School?
All-State Career School: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $25,305 at Mercyhurst University, a difference of $18,972. 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?
60% of students finish at Mercyhurst University, against 53% at All-State Career School. 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.