Head-to-head comparison
Grand View University vs Wartburg College: 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 Waverly, IA
Wartburg College
- Net price / year
- $32,908
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,201
- Payback
- 16.8 yrs
Wartburg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $131,632 in 16.8 years versus 19.5 years at Grand View University, on median earnings of $56,201 vs $52,824 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand View University | Wartburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,774 | $32,908 |
| Total net cost | $87,096 | $131,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,824 | $56,201 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 19.5 yrs | 16.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $2,184 | $25,188 |
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 Wartburg College?
Grand View University, at $21,774 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $11,134 a year, or $44,536 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 Wartburg College graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $3,377 more than the $52,824 at Grand View 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, Grand View University or Wartburg College?
Grand View University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wartburg College, a difference of $4,500. 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 Wartburg College, against 54% at Grand View 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.