Head-to-head comparison
Butler University vs Wabash College: 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 Crawfordsville, IN
Wabash College
- Net price / year
- $24,336
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,952
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Wabash College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,344 in 4.5 years versus 5 years at Butler University, on median earnings of $69,952 vs $77,235 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler University | Wabash College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,041 | $24,336 |
| Total net cost | $144,164 | $97,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,235 | $69,952 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $433,336 | $334,496 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Butler University or Wabash College?
Wabash College, at $24,336 a year after aid versus $36,041 — a gap of $11,705 a year, or $46,820 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 Wabash College graduates earn more?
Butler University graduates report a median $77,235 ten years after entry, $7,283 more than the $69,952 at Wabash 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, Butler University or Wabash College?
Butler University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wabash College, a difference of $1,000. 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?
80% of students finish at Butler University, against 77% at Wabash 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.