Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Bryn Mawr College

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to Bryn Mawr College that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit

$31,759
Net Price
$75,217
Median Earnings (10yr)
29.4%
Acceptance Rate
83.6%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr College posts an average net price of $31,759 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Bryn Mawr College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $19,289, achieved by University of California-San Diego at $12,470. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Bryn Mawr College’s $75,217, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $89,378.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

8
Alternatives Found
$19,289
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
55%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Claremont McKenna College $105k 2. The Cooper Union for the Adv $84k 3. Colgate University $85k 4. Wellesley College $85k 5. Washington and Lee Universit $95k Compared to Bryn Mawr College: $75k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$28,849 -$2,910 $104,736 93.3% 55%
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$13,269 -$18,490 $83,847 80.7% 51%
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$28,786 -$2,973 $85,139 90.9% 50%
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$25,496 -$6,263 $84,803 91.4% 49%
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$23,781 -$7,978 $94,810 94.4% 43%
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$17,716 -$14,043 $88,665 95.1% 42%
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
Brockton, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$22,761 -$8,998 $88,084 N/A 42%
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public Better Value
$12,470 -$19,289 $84,943 86.8% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Bryn Mawr College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Bryn Mawr College?
We found 8 schools similar to Bryn Mawr College that cost less. The closest match is Claremont McKenna College with 55% similarity and a net price of $28,849.
What is the ROI of attending Bryn Mawr College?
Bryn Mawr College has an average net price of $31,759. Former students earn a median of $75,217 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Bryn Mawr College for less money?
Yes - 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Claremont McKenna College costs $28,849 (saving $2,910) with median earnings of $104,736.
What is the cheapest alternative to Bryn Mawr College?
The most affordable similar school is University of California-San Diego at $12,470, saving $19,289 compared to Bryn Mawr College. It has a 41% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $89,378 compared to Bryn Mawr College's $75,217. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.