Head-to-head comparison
Bellevue University vs Nebraska Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bellevue, NE
Bellevue University
- Net price / year
- $17,550
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,289
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Lincoln, NE
Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $18,327
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,405
- Payback
- 9.1 yrs
Bellevue University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,200 in 5.4 years versus 9.1 years at Nebraska Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $61,289 vs $56,405 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bellevue University | Nebraska Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,550 | $18,327 |
| Total net cost | $70,200 | $73,308 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,289 | $56,405 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $26,970 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $188,380 | $87,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bellevue University or Nebraska Wesleyan University?
Bellevue University, at $17,550 a year after aid versus $18,327 — a gap of $777 a year, or $3,108 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 Bellevue University or Nebraska Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Bellevue University graduates report a median $61,289 ten years after entry, $4,884 more than the $56,405 at Nebraska 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, Bellevue University or Nebraska Wesleyan University?
Bellevue University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $26,970 at Nebraska Wesleyan University, a difference of $6,970. 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?
66% of students finish at Nebraska Wesleyan University, against 33% at Bellevue 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.