Head-to-head comparison
Doane University vs Hastings College: which has better ROI?
Option A Crete, NE
Doane University
- Net price / year
- $26,364
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,316
- Payback
- 21.3 yrs
Option B Hastings, NE
Hastings College
- Net price / year
- $24,452
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,303
- Payback
- 33.2 yrs
Doane University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,456 in 21.3 years versus 33.2 years at Hastings College, on median earnings of $53,316 vs $51,303 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Doane University | Hastings College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,364 | $24,452 |
| Total net cost | $105,456 | $97,808 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,316 | $51,303 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 21.3 yrs | 33.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,336 | -$38,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Doane University or Hastings College?
Hastings College, at $24,452 a year after aid versus $26,364 — a gap of $1,912 a year, or $7,648 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 Doane University or Hastings College graduates earn more?
Doane University graduates report a median $53,316 ten years after entry, $2,013 more than the $51,303 at Hastings 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, Doane University or Hastings College?
Doane University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Hastings College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
57% of students finish at Doane University, against 49% at Hastings College. 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.