Head-to-head comparison
Bluffton University vs Defiance College: which has better ROI?
Option A Bluffton, OH
Bluffton University
- Net price / year
- $19,943
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,547
- Payback
- 67.2 yrs
Option B Defiance, OH
Defiance College
- Net price / year
- $26,337
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,351
- Payback
- 106.3 yrs
Bluffton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $79,772 in 67.2 years versus 106.3 years at Defiance College, on median earnings of $49,547 vs $49,351 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bluffton University | Defiance College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,943 | $26,337 |
| Total net cost | $79,772 | $105,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,547 | $49,351 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,813 |
| Payback | 67.2 yrs | 106.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$56,032 | -$85,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bluffton University or Defiance College?
Bluffton University, at $19,943 a year after aid versus $26,337 — a gap of $6,394 a year, or $25,576 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 Bluffton University or Defiance College graduates earn more?
Bluffton University graduates report a median $49,547 ten years after entry, $196 more than the $49,351 at Defiance College. 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, Bluffton University or Defiance College?
Defiance College: its completers carry a median $26,813 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bluffton University, a difference of $187. 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?
53% of students finish at Bluffton University, against 31% at Defiance 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.