Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania vs Community College of Allegheny County
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Poor return |
| 10-year ROI | +41% | -99% |
| 10-year net gain | $29,629 | $-32,061 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $55,190 | $45,050 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $43,714 | $35,385 |
| Average net price | $15,699 | $13,970 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $12,680 |
| Break-even | 7.1 yrs | 651.2 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 55% | — |
| Admission rate | 93% | — |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Break-even
+$29,629 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Community College of Allegheny County
Poor return
$-32,061 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.