Head-to-head comparison
Eastern Michigan University vs Spring Arbor University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ypsilanti, MI
Eastern Michigan University
- Net price / year
- $15,407
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,793
- Payback
- 18 yrs
Option B Spring Arbor, MI
Spring Arbor University
- Net price / year
- $19,353
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,732
- Payback
- 23 yrs
Eastern Michigan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,628 in 18 years versus 23 years at Spring Arbor University, on median earnings of $51,793 vs $51,732 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Michigan University | Spring Arbor University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,407 | $19,353 |
| Total net cost | $61,628 | $77,412 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,793 | $51,732 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,375 |
| Payback | 18 yrs | 23 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $7,032 | -$9,972 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Eastern Michigan University or Spring Arbor University?
Eastern Michigan University, at $15,407 a year after aid versus $19,353 — a gap of $3,946 a year, or $15,784 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 Michigan University or Spring Arbor University graduates earn more?
Eastern Michigan University graduates report a median $51,793 ten years after entry, $61 more than the $51,732 at Spring Arbor 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, Eastern Michigan University or Spring Arbor University?
Eastern Michigan University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,375 at Spring Arbor University, a difference of $1,375. 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?
64% of students finish at Spring Arbor University, against 46% at Eastern Michigan 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.