Head-to-head comparison
Benedictine College vs Washburn Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Atchison, KS
Benedictine College
- Net price / year
- $27,891
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,175
- Payback
- 23.2 yrs
Option B Topeka, KS
Washburn Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $8,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,774
- Payback
- 24.3 yrs
Benedictine College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,564 in 23.2 years versus 24.3 years at Washburn Institute of Technology, on median earnings of $53,175 vs $49,774 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Benedictine College | Washburn Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,891 | $8,607 |
| Total net cost | $111,564 | $34,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,175 | $49,774 |
| Median debt | $24,599 | $18,127 |
| Payback | 23.2 yrs | 24.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$15,264 | -$6,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Benedictine College or Washburn Institute of Technology?
Washburn Institute of Technology, at $8,607 a year after aid versus $27,891 — a gap of $19,284 a year, or $77,136 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 Benedictine College or Washburn Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Benedictine College graduates report a median $53,175 ten years after entry, $3,401 more than the $49,774 at Washburn Institute of Technology. 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, Benedictine College or Washburn Institute of Technology?
Washburn Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $18,127 in federal loans versus $24,599 at Benedictine College, a difference of $6,472. 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?
68% of students finish at Washburn Institute of Technology, against 62% at Benedictine 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.