Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington vs Ursinus 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 Collegeville, PA
Ursinus College
- Net price / year
- $30,536
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,721
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Ursinus College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $122,144 in 4.8 years versus 4.8 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, on median earnings of $73,721 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | Ursinus College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,071 | $30,536 |
| Total net cost | $72,284 | $122,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $73,721 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $229,216 | $385,076 |
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 Ursinus College?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, at $18,071 a year after aid versus $30,536 — a gap of $12,465 a year, or $49,860 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 Ursinus College graduates earn more?
Ursinus College graduates report a median $73,721 ten years after entry, $10,286 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 Ursinus College?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ursinus College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
73% of students finish at Ursinus 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.