Head-to-head comparison
Asbury University vs Kentucky Wesleyan College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wilmore, KY
Asbury University
- Net price / year
- $21,401
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,368
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Owensboro, KY
Kentucky Wesleyan College
- Net price / year
- $17,131
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,747
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kentucky Wesleyan College comes closer — median earnings $46,747 against a $68,524 total, vs $42,368 at Asbury University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asbury University | Kentucky Wesleyan College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,401 | $17,131 |
| Total net cost | $85,604 | $68,524 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,368 | $46,747 |
| Median debt | $24,028 | $23,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$205,444 | -$100,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Asbury University or Kentucky Wesleyan College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College, at $17,131 a year after aid versus $21,401 — a gap of $4,270 a year, or $17,080 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 Asbury University or Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates earn more?
Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates report a median $46,747 ten years after entry, $4,379 more than the $42,368 at Asbury 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, Asbury University or Kentucky Wesleyan College?
Kentucky Wesleyan College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $24,028 at Asbury University, a difference of $778. 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 Asbury University, against 47% at Kentucky Wesleyan 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.