Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs Mercyhurst University: which has better ROI?
Option A Erie, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
- Net price / year
- $24,558
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Option B Erie, PA
Mercyhurst University
- Net price / year
- $19,444
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,452
- Payback
- No payback
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,232 in 6.5 years versus not at all at Mercyhurst University, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $47,452 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Mercyhurst University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,558 | $19,444 |
| Total net cost | $98,232 | $77,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $47,452 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,305 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $203,268 | -$95,936 |
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 Erie-Behrend College or Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University, at $19,444 a year after aid versus $24,558 — a gap of $5,114 a year, or $20,456 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 Erie-Behrend College or Mercyhurst University graduates earn more?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates report a median $63,435 ten years after entry, $15,983 more than the $47,452 at Mercyhurst University. 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 Erie-Behrend College or Mercyhurst University?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,305 at Mercyhurst University, a difference of $305. 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?
60% of students finish at Mercyhurst University, against 44% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College. 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.