Head-to-head comparison
Duquesne University vs Muhlenberg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Duquesne University
- Net price / year
- $37,730
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,742
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Allentown, PA
Muhlenberg College
- Net price / year
- $28,905
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,107
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Muhlenberg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,620 in 5.6 years versus 5.7 years at Duquesne University, on median earnings of $69,107 vs $74,742 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Duquesne University | Muhlenberg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,730 | $28,905 |
| Total net cost | $150,920 | $115,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,742 | $69,107 |
| Median debt | $26,244 | $25,455 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $376,720 | $299,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Duquesne University or Muhlenberg College?
Muhlenberg College, at $28,905 a year after aid versus $37,730 — a gap of $8,825 a year, or $35,300 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 Duquesne University or Muhlenberg College graduates earn more?
Duquesne University graduates report a median $74,742 ten years after entry, $5,635 more than the $69,107 at Muhlenberg 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, Duquesne University or Muhlenberg College?
Muhlenberg College: its completers carry a median $25,455 in federal loans versus $26,244 at Duquesne University, a difference of $789. 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?
82% of students finish at Muhlenberg College, against 77% at Duquesne 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.