Head-to-head comparison
Alverno College vs Mount Mary University: which has better ROI?
Option A Milwaukee, WI
Alverno College
- Net price / year
- $22,540
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,145
- Payback
- 18.8 yrs
Option B Milwaukee, WI
Mount Mary University
- Net price / year
- $20,144
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,745
- Payback
- 209.3 yrs
Alverno College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,160 in 18.8 years versus 209.3 years at Mount Mary University, on median earnings of $53,145 vs $48,745 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alverno College | Mount Mary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,540 | $20,144 |
| Total net cost | $90,160 | $80,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,145 | $48,745 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 18.8 yrs | 209.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $5,540 | -$72,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alverno College or Mount Mary University?
Mount Mary University, at $20,144 a year after aid versus $22,540 — a gap of $2,396 a year, or $9,584 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 Alverno College or Mount Mary University graduates earn more?
Alverno College graduates report a median $53,145 ten years after entry, $4,400 more than the $48,745 at Mount Mary University. 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, Alverno College or Mount Mary University?
Mount Mary University: its completers carry a median $25,288 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alverno College, a difference of $1,712. 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?
49% of students finish at Alverno College, against 43% at Mount Mary University. 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.