Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania College of Technology vs Arcadia University: which has better ROI?
Option A Williamsport, PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology
- Net price / year
- $25,110
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,567
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Option B Glenside, PA
Arcadia University
- Net price / year
- $29,466
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,336
- Payback
- 11.8 yrs
Arcadia University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,864 in 11.8 years versus 11.9 years at Pennsylvania College of Technology, on median earnings of $58,336 vs $52,567 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania College of Technology | Arcadia University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,110 | $29,466 |
| Total net cost | $50,220 | $117,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,567 | $58,336 |
| Median debt | $23,961 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.9 yrs | 11.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $33,920 | $81,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania College of Technology or Arcadia University?
Pennsylvania College of Technology, at $25,110 a year after aid versus $29,466 — a gap of $4,356 a year, or $67,644 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 Technology or Arcadia University graduates earn more?
Arcadia University graduates report a median $58,336 ten years after entry, $5,769 more than the $52,567 at Pennsylvania College of Technology. 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 Technology or Arcadia University?
Pennsylvania College of Technology: its completers carry a median $23,961 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arcadia University, a difference of $3,039. 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?
67% of students finish at Arcadia University, against 53% at Pennsylvania College of Technology. 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.