Head-to-head comparison
Duke University vs Galen Health Institutes-Asheville: which has better ROI?
Option A Durham, NC
Duke University
- Net price / year
- $29,612
- Earnings, 10 years
- $97,800
- Payback
- 2.4 yrs
Option B Asheville, NC
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville
- Net price / year
- $28,602
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,480
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Duke University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,448 in 2.4 years versus 4.4 years at Galen Health Institutes-Asheville, on median earnings of $97,800 vs $61,480 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Duke University | Galen Health Institutes-Asheville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,612 | $28,602 |
| Total net cost | $118,448 | $57,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $97,800 | $61,480 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $24,166 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $870,352 | $205,196 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Duke University or Galen Health Institutes-Asheville?
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville, at $28,602 a year after aid versus $29,612 — a gap of $1,010 a year, or $61,244 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 Duke University or Galen Health Institutes-Asheville graduates earn more?
Duke University graduates report a median $97,800 ten years after entry, $36,320 more than the $61,480 at Galen Health Institutes-Asheville. 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, Duke University or Galen Health Institutes-Asheville?
Duke University: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $24,166 at Galen Health Institutes-Asheville, a difference of $11,166. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.