Head-to-head comparison
Delta State University vs Belhaven University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, MS
Delta State University
- Net price / year
- $13,540
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,991
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Jackson, MS
Belhaven University
- Net price / year
- $15,676
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,440
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belhaven University comes closer — median earnings $46,440 against a $62,704 total, vs $41,991 at Delta State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Delta State University | Belhaven University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,540 | $15,676 |
| Total net cost | $54,160 | $62,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,991 | $46,440 |
| Median debt | $20,390 | $26,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$181,540 | -$101,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Delta State University or Belhaven University?
Delta State University, at $13,540 a year after aid versus $15,676 — a gap of $2,136 a year, or $8,544 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 Delta State University or Belhaven University graduates earn more?
Belhaven University graduates report a median $46,440 ten years after entry, $4,449 more than the $41,991 at Delta State 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, Delta State University or Belhaven University?
Delta State University: its completers carry a median $20,390 in federal loans versus $26,333 at Belhaven University, a difference of $5,943. 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?
49% of students finish at Belhaven University, against 48% at Delta State 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.