Head-to-head comparison
Temple University vs Lebanon Valley College: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Temple University
- Net price / year
- $28,198
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,727
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Option B Annville, PA
Lebanon Valley College
- Net price / year
- $26,979
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,621
- Payback
- 7.6 yrs
Temple University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,792 in 7.3 years versus 7.6 years at Lebanon Valley College, on median earnings of $63,727 vs $62,621 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Temple University | Lebanon Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,198 | $26,979 |
| Total net cost | $112,792 | $107,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,727 | $62,621 |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $194,548 | $177,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Temple University or Lebanon Valley College?
Lebanon Valley College, at $26,979 a year after aid versus $28,198 — a gap of $1,219 a year, or $4,876 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 Temple University or Lebanon Valley College graduates earn more?
Temple University graduates report a median $63,727 ten years after entry, $1,106 more than the $62,621 at Lebanon Valley 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, Temple University or Lebanon Valley College?
Temple University: its completers carry a median $24,395 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Lebanon Valley College, a difference of $2,605. 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?
75% of students finish at Temple University, against 65% at Lebanon Valley 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.