Head-to-head comparison
Dickinson College vs Waynesburg University: which has better ROI?
Option A Carlisle, PA
Dickinson College
- Net price / year
- $37,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,204
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Waynesburg, PA
Waynesburg University
- Net price / year
- $18,235
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,537
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Dickinson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $150,428 in 6.9 years versus 7.2 years at Waynesburg University, on median earnings of $70,204 vs $58,537 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dickinson College | Waynesburg University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,607 | $18,235 |
| Total net cost | $150,428 | $72,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,204 | $58,537 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,452 | $130,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dickinson College or Waynesburg University?
Waynesburg University, at $18,235 a year after aid versus $37,607 — a gap of $19,372 a year, or $77,488 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 Dickinson College or Waynesburg University graduates earn more?
Dickinson College graduates report a median $70,204 ten years after entry, $11,667 more than the $58,537 at Waynesburg 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, Dickinson College or Waynesburg University?
Dickinson College: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Waynesburg University, a difference of $8,000. 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 Dickinson College, against 66% at Waynesburg 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.