Head-to-head comparison
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion vs Saint Mary's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
- Net price / year
- $22,866
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,986
- Payback
- 7.9 yrs
Option B Notre Dame, IN
Saint Mary's College
- Net price / year
- $25,292
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,354
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,464 in 7.9 years versus 9.2 years at Saint Mary's College, on median earnings of $59,986 vs $59,354 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | Saint Mary's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,866 | $25,292 |
| Total net cost | $91,464 | $101,168 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,986 | $59,354 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.9 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $141,056 | $118,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion or Saint Mary's College?
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion, at $22,866 a year after aid versus $25,292 — a gap of $2,426 a year, or $9,704 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 Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion or Saint Mary's College graduates earn more?
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion graduates report a median $59,986 ten years after entry, $632 more than the $59,354 at Saint Mary's College. 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, Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion or Saint Mary's College?
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion: its completers carry a median $24,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Saint Mary's College, 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?
69% of students finish at Saint Mary's College, against 67% at Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion. 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.