Head-to-head comparison
Augustana University vs Dakota Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Sioux Falls, SD
Augustana University
- Net price / year
- $23,894
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,217
- Payback
- 8.8 yrs
Option B Mitchell, SD
Dakota Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $19,735
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,728
- Payback
- 14.7 yrs
Augustana University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,576 in 8.8 years versus 14.7 years at Dakota Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $59,217 vs $53,728 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Augustana University | Dakota Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,894 | $19,735 |
| Total net cost | $95,576 | $78,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,217 | $53,728 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 14.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $121,564 | $28,420 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Augustana University or Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University, at $19,735 a year after aid versus $23,894 — a gap of $4,159 a year, or $16,636 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 Augustana University or Dakota Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Augustana University graduates report a median $59,217 ten years after entry, $5,489 more than the $53,728 at Dakota Wesleyan 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, Augustana University or Dakota Wesleyan University?
Augustana University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Dakota Wesleyan University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
73% of students finish at Augustana University, against 48% at Dakota Wesleyan 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.