Head-to-head comparison
Grand View University vs University of Dubuque: which has better ROI?
Option A Des Moines, IA
Grand View University
- Net price / year
- $21,774
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,824
- Payback
- 19.5 yrs
Option B Dubuque, IA
University of Dubuque
- Net price / year
- $23,386
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,190
- Payback
- 33.1 yrs
Grand View University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,096 in 19.5 years versus 33.1 years at University of Dubuque, on median earnings of $52,824 vs $51,190 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand View University | University of Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,774 | $23,386 |
| Total net cost | $87,096 | $93,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,824 | $51,190 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $25,750 |
| Payback | 19.5 yrs | 33.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $2,184 | -$36,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Grand View University or University of Dubuque?
Grand View University, at $21,774 a year after aid versus $23,386 — a gap of $1,612 a year, or $6,448 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 Grand View University or University of Dubuque graduates earn more?
Grand View University graduates report a median $52,824 ten years after entry, $1,634 more than the $51,190 at University of Dubuque. 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, Grand View University or University of Dubuque?
Grand View University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,750 at University of Dubuque, a difference of $3,250. 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?
54% of students finish at Grand View University, against 40% at University of Dubuque. 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.