Head-to-head comparison
Champlain College vs Norwich University: which has better ROI?
Option A Burlington, VT
Champlain College
- Net price / year
- $35,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,386
- Payback
- 14.3 yrs
Option B Northfield, VT
Norwich University
- Net price / year
- $22,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,575
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Norwich University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,028 in 5.2 years versus 14.3 years at Champlain College, on median earnings of $65,575 vs $58,386 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Champlain College | Norwich University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,860 | $22,257 |
| Total net cost | $143,440 | $89,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,386 | $65,575 |
| Median debt | $26,814 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 14.3 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $57,080 | $255,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Champlain College or Norwich University?
Norwich University, at $22,257 a year after aid versus $35,860 — a gap of $13,603 a year, or $54,412 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 Champlain College or Norwich University graduates earn more?
Norwich University graduates report a median $65,575 ten years after entry, $7,189 more than the $58,386 at Champlain 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, Champlain College or Norwich University?
Norwich University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,814 at Champlain College, a difference of $1,814. 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?
65% of students finish at Champlain College, against 60% at Norwich 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.