Head-to-head comparison
Ursinus College vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton: which has better ROI?
Option A Collegeville, PA
Ursinus College
- Net price / year
- $30,536
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,721
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B Hazleton, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
- Net price / year
- $17,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 4.7 yrs
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,388 in 4.7 years versus 4.8 years at Ursinus College, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $73,721 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ursinus College | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,536 | $17,597 |
| Total net cost | $122,144 | $70,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $73,721 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 4.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $385,076 | $231,112 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ursinus College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton, at $17,597 a year after aid versus $30,536 — a gap of $12,939 a year, or $51,756 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 Ursinus College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton 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 Hazleton. 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, Ursinus College or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton: 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 26% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton. 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.