Head-to-head comparison
Peirce College vs La Roche University: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Peirce College
- Net price / year
- $12,148
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,660
- Payback
- 21.1 yrs
Option B Pittsburgh, PA
La Roche University
- Net price / year
- $20,794
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,341
- Payback
- 20.9 yrs
La Roche University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,176 in 20.9 years versus 21.1 years at Peirce College, on median earnings of $52,341 vs $50,660 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Peirce College | La Roche University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,148 | $20,794 |
| Total net cost | $48,592 | $83,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,660 | $52,341 |
| Median debt | $31,250 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 21.1 yrs | 20.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$2,592 | -$3,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Peirce College or La Roche University?
Peirce College, at $12,148 a year after aid versus $20,794 — a gap of $8,646 a year, or $34,584 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 Peirce College or La Roche University graduates earn more?
La Roche University graduates report a median $52,341 ten years after entry, $1,681 more than the $50,660 at Peirce College. 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, Peirce College or La Roche University?
La Roche University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,250 at Peirce College, a difference of $6,250. 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?
57% of students finish at La Roche University, against 10% at Peirce 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.