Head-to-head comparison
Butler University vs Valparaiso University: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianapolis, IN
Butler University
- Net price / year
- $36,041
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,235
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso University
- Net price / year
- $18,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,191
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Butler University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,164 in 5 years versus 5 years at Valparaiso University, on median earnings of $77,235 vs $63,191 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler University | Valparaiso University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,041 | $18,578 |
| Total net cost | $144,164 | $74,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,235 | $63,191 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,942 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $433,336 | $222,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Butler University or Valparaiso University?
Valparaiso University, at $18,578 a year after aid versus $36,041 — a gap of $17,463 a year, or $69,852 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 Butler University or Valparaiso University graduates earn more?
Butler University graduates report a median $77,235 ten years after entry, $14,044 more than the $63,191 at Valparaiso 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, Butler University or Valparaiso University?
Butler University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,942 at Valparaiso University, a difference of $942. 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?
80% of students finish at Butler University, against 70% at Valparaiso 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.