Head-to-head comparison
Campbell University vs Pfeiffer University: which has better ROI?
Option A Buies Creek, NC
Campbell University
- Net price / year
- $24,516
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,886
- Payback
- 15 yrs
Option B Misenheimer, NC
Pfeiffer University
- Net price / year
- $19,076
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,562
- Payback
- 23.8 yrs
Campbell University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,064 in 15 years versus 23.8 years at Pfeiffer University, on median earnings of $54,886 vs $51,562 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Campbell University | Pfeiffer University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,516 | $19,076 |
| Total net cost | $98,064 | $76,304 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,886 | $51,562 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $26,163 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 23.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $32,456 | -$12,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Campbell University or Pfeiffer University?
Pfeiffer University, at $19,076 a year after aid versus $24,516 — a gap of $5,440 a year, or $21,760 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 Campbell University or Pfeiffer University graduates earn more?
Campbell University graduates report a median $54,886 ten years after entry, $3,324 more than the $51,562 at Pfeiffer 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, Campbell University or Pfeiffer University?
Campbell University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $26,163 at Pfeiffer University, a difference of $3,663. 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?
61% of students finish at Campbell University, against 35% at Pfeiffer 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.