Head-to-head comparison
Dordt University vs Grand View University: which has better ROI?
Option A Sioux Center, IA
Dordt University
- Net price / year
- $25,807
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,559
- Payback
- 24.6 yrs
Option B Des Moines, IA
Grand View University
- Net price / year
- $21,774
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,824
- Payback
- 19.5 yrs
Grand View University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,096 in 19.5 years versus 24.6 years at Dordt University, on median earnings of $52,824 vs $52,559 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dordt University | Grand View University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,807 | $21,774 |
| Total net cost | $103,228 | $87,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,559 | $52,824 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 24.6 yrs | 19.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$19,248 | $2,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dordt University or Grand View University?
Grand View University, at $21,774 a year after aid versus $25,807 — a gap of $4,033 a year, or $16,132 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 Dordt University or Grand View University graduates earn more?
Grand View University graduates report a median $52,824 ten years after entry, $265 more than the $52,559 at Dordt 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, Dordt University or Grand View University?
Dordt University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Grand View University, a difference of $1,000. 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?
70% of students finish at Dordt University, against 54% at Grand View 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.