Head-to-head comparison
George Fox University vs Willamette University: which has better ROI?
Option A Newberg, OR
George Fox University
- Net price / year
- $31,679
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,761
- Payback
- 11.1 yrs
Option B Salem, OR
Willamette University
- Net price / year
- $25,121
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,911
- Payback
- 11.8 yrs
George Fox University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $126,716 in 11.1 years versus 11.8 years at Willamette University, on median earnings of $59,761 vs $56,911 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | George Fox University | Willamette University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,679 | $25,121 |
| Total net cost | $126,716 | $100,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,761 | $56,911 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 11.1 yrs | 11.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $101,304 | $70,536 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, George Fox University or Willamette University?
Willamette University, at $25,121 a year after aid versus $31,679 — a gap of $6,558 a year, or $26,232 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 George Fox University or Willamette University graduates earn more?
George Fox University graduates report a median $59,761 ten years after entry, $2,850 more than the $56,911 at Willamette 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, George Fox University or Willamette University?
Willamette University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $24,250 at George Fox University, a difference of $2,750. 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?
72% of students finish at George Fox University, against 71% at Willamette 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.