Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington vs Bryn Mawr College: which has better ROI?
Option A Abington, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
- Net price / year
- $18,071
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B Bryn Mawr, PA
Bryn Mawr College
- Net price / year
- $31,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,217
- Payback
- 4.7 yrs
Bryn Mawr College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,036 in 4.7 years versus 4.8 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, on median earnings of $75,217 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | Bryn Mawr College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,071 | $31,759 |
| Total net cost | $72,284 | $127,036 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $75,217 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 4.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $229,216 | $410,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington or Bryn Mawr College?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, at $18,071 a year after aid versus $31,759 — a gap of $13,688 a year, or $54,752 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 State University-Penn State Abington or Bryn Mawr College graduates earn more?
Bryn Mawr College graduates report a median $75,217 ten years after entry, $11,782 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington. 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 State University-Penn State Abington or Bryn Mawr College?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Bryn Mawr College, against 20% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington. 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.