Head-to-head comparison
Adrian College vs Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
Option A Adrian, MI
Adrian College
- Net price / year
- $25,368
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,504
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Option B Grand Rapids, MI
Aquinas College
- Net price / year
- $16,626
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,584
- Payback
- 54.3 yrs
Adrian College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,472 in 14.2 years versus 54.3 years at Aquinas College, on median earnings of $55,504 vs $49,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Adrian College | Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,368 | $16,626 |
| Total net cost | $101,472 | $66,504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,504 | $49,584 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 14.2 yrs | 54.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $41,408 | -$42,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Adrian College or Aquinas College?
Aquinas College, at $16,626 a year after aid versus $25,368 — a gap of $8,742 a year, or $34,968 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 Adrian College or Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Adrian College graduates report a median $55,504 ten years after entry, $5,920 more than the $49,584 at Aquinas 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, Adrian College or Aquinas College?
Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Adrian College, a difference of $4,000. 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?
65% of students finish at Aquinas College, against 48% at Adrian 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.