Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Lancaster, PA
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
- Net price / year
- $30,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,301
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bryn Athyn, PA
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
- Net price / year
- $20,586
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,457
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bryn Athyn College of the New Church comes closer — median earnings $40,457 against a $82,344 total, vs $33,301 at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,083 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $120,332 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,301 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$421,512 | -$240,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, at $20,586 a year after aid versus $30,083 — a gap of $9,497 a year, or $37,988 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates report a median $40,457 ten years after entry, $7,156 more than the $33,301 at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. 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, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: its completers carry a median $22,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, a difference of $4,750. 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?
69% of students finish at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, against 68% at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. 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.