Head-to-head comparison
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global vs Butler University: which has better ROI?
Option A Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
- Net price / year
- $16,898
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,986
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Indianapolis, IN
Butler University
- Net price / year
- $36,041
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,235
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Butler University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,164 in 5 years versus 5.8 years at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global, on median earnings of $77,235 vs $59,986 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | Butler University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,898 | $36,041 |
| Total net cost | $67,592 | $144,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,986 | $77,235 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $164,928 | $433,336 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global or Butler University?
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global, at $16,898 a year after aid versus $36,041 — a gap of $19,143 a year, or $76,572 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-National & Global or Butler University graduates earn more?
Butler University graduates report a median $77,235 ten years after entry, $17,249 more than the $59,986 at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global. 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-National & Global or Butler University?
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global: its completers carry a median $24,250 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Butler University, a difference of $1,750. 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?
80% of students finish at Butler University, against 35% at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global. 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.