Head-to-head comparison
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences vs Westminster College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fayette, MO
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Net price / year
- $22,766
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,991
- Payback
- 144.3 yrs
Option B Fulton, MO
Westminster College
- Net price / year
- $24,314
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,199
- Payback
- 25.3 yrs
Westminster College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,256 in 25.3 years versus 144.3 years at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, on median earnings of $52,199 vs $48,991 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Westminster College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,766 | $24,314 |
| Total net cost | $91,064 | $97,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,991 | $52,199 |
| Median debt | $17,619 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 144.3 yrs | 25.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$78,444 | -$20,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or Westminster College?
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, at $22,766 a year after aid versus $24,314 — a gap of $1,548 a year, or $6,192 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 Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or Westminster College graduates earn more?
Westminster College graduates report a median $52,199 ten years after entry, $3,208 more than the $48,991 at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 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, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or Westminster College?
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: its completers carry a median $17,619 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Westminster College, a difference of $9,381. 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?
55% of students finish at Westminster College, against 51% at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 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.