Head-to-head comparison
Eastern Kentucky University vs American National University-Louisville: which has better ROI?
Option A Richmond, KY
Eastern Kentucky University
- Net price / year
- $11,040
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,795
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Louisville, KY
American National University-Louisville
- Net price / year
- $17,010
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,188
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern Kentucky University comes closer — median earnings $45,795 against a $44,160 total, vs $28,188 at American National University-Louisville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Kentucky University | American National University-Louisville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,040 | $17,010 |
| Total net cost | $44,160 | $34,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,795 | $28,188 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $23,618 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$95,460 | -$437,460 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Eastern Kentucky University or American National University-Louisville?
Eastern Kentucky University, at $11,040 a year after aid versus $17,010 — a gap of $5,970 a year, or $10,140 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 Eastern Kentucky University or American National University-Louisville graduates earn more?
Eastern Kentucky University graduates report a median $45,795 ten years after entry, $17,607 more than the $28,188 at American National University-Louisville. 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, Eastern Kentucky University or American National University-Louisville?
Eastern Kentucky University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $23,618 at American National University-Louisville, a difference of $1,118. 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?
50% of students finish at Eastern Kentucky University, against 50% at American National University-Louisville. 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.