Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona vs Gwynedd Mercy University: which has better ROI?
Option A Altoona, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
- Net price / year
- $22,213
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Option B Gwynedd Valley, PA
Gwynedd Mercy University
- Net price / year
- $27,483
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,145
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Gwynedd Mercy University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $109,932 in 5.9 years versus 5.9 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, on median earnings of $67,145 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | Gwynedd Mercy University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,213 | $27,483 |
| Total net cost | $88,852 | $109,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $67,145 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.9 yrs | 5.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $212,648 | $265,768 |
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 Altoona or Gwynedd Mercy University?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, at $22,213 a year after aid versus $27,483 — a gap of $5,270 a year, or $21,080 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 Altoona or Gwynedd Mercy University graduates earn more?
Gwynedd Mercy University graduates report a median $67,145 ten years after entry, $3,710 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. 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 Altoona or Gwynedd Mercy University?
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?
57% of students finish at Gwynedd Mercy University, against 17% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. 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.