Head-to-head comparison
East Texas Baptist University vs Southwestern Adventist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Marshall, TX
East Texas Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $23,911
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,788
- Payback
- 21.6 yrs
Option B Keene, TX
Southwestern Adventist University
- Net price / year
- $22,778
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,946
- Payback
- 19.9 yrs
Southwestern Adventist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,112 in 19.9 years versus 21.6 years at East Texas Baptist University, on median earnings of $52,946 vs $52,788 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Texas Baptist University | Southwestern Adventist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,911 | $22,778 |
| Total net cost | $95,644 | $91,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,788 | $52,946 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $26,998 |
| Payback | 21.6 yrs | 19.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$7,084 | $608 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, East Texas Baptist University or Southwestern Adventist University?
Southwestern Adventist University, at $22,778 a year after aid versus $23,911 — a gap of $1,133 a year, or $4,532 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 East Texas Baptist University or Southwestern Adventist University graduates earn more?
Southwestern Adventist University graduates report a median $52,946 ten years after entry, $158 more than the $52,788 at East Texas Baptist 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, East Texas Baptist University or Southwestern Adventist University?
East Texas Baptist University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,998 at Southwestern Adventist University, a difference of $3,748. 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?
52% of students finish at Southwestern Adventist University, against 47% at East Texas Baptist 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.