Head-to-head comparison
Dordt University vs Northwestern College: 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 Orange City, IA
Northwestern College
- Net price / year
- $25,907
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,802
- Payback
- 71.9 yrs
Dordt University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $103,228 in 24.6 years versus 71.9 years at Northwestern College, on median earnings of $52,559 vs $49,802 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dordt University | Northwestern College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,807 | $25,907 |
| Total net cost | $103,228 | $103,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,559 | $49,802 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $23,249 |
| Payback | 24.6 yrs | 71.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$19,248 | -$74,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dordt University or Northwestern College?
Dordt University, at $25,807 a year after aid versus $25,907 — a gap of $100 a year, or $400 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 Northwestern College graduates earn more?
Dordt University graduates report a median $52,559 ten years after entry, $2,757 more than the $49,802 at Northwestern 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, Dordt University or Northwestern College?
Dordt University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $23,249 at Northwestern College, a difference of $1,749. 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 66% at Northwestern 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.