Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs UPMC Mercy School of Nursing: 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 Pittsburgh, PA
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
- Net price / year
- $33,159
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,337
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
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 6.6 years at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $68,337 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | UPMC Mercy School of Nursing |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,558 | $33,159 |
| Total net cost | $98,232 | $132,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $68,337 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $14,750 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $203,268 | $266,904 |
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 UPMC Mercy School of Nursing?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, at $24,558 a year after aid versus $33,159 — a gap of $8,601 a year, or $34,404 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 UPMC Mercy School of Nursing graduates earn more?
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing graduates report a median $68,337 ten years after entry, $4,902 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College. 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 UPMC Mercy School of Nursing?
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing: its completers carry a median $14,750 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, a difference of $10,250. 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?
44% of students finish at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, against 33% at UPMC Mercy School of Nursing. 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.