Head-to-head comparison
Kansas Wesleyan University vs Washburn Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Salina, KS
Kansas Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $22,671
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,152
- Payback
- 32.5 yrs
Option B Topeka, KS
Washburn Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $8,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,774
- Payback
- 24.3 yrs
Washburn Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $34,428 in 24.3 years versus 32.5 years at Kansas Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $49,774 vs $51,152 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kansas Wesleyan University | Washburn Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,671 | $8,607 |
| Total net cost | $90,684 | $34,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,152 | $49,774 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $18,127 |
| Payback | 32.5 yrs | 24.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$34,844 | -$6,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kansas Wesleyan University or Washburn Institute of Technology?
Washburn Institute of Technology, at $8,607 a year after aid versus $22,671 — a gap of $14,064 a year, or $56,256 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 Kansas Wesleyan University or Washburn Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Kansas Wesleyan University graduates report a median $51,152 ten years after entry, $1,378 more than the $49,774 at Washburn Institute of Technology. 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, Kansas Wesleyan University or Washburn Institute of Technology?
Washburn Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $18,127 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Kansas Wesleyan University, a difference of $5,123. 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?
68% of students finish at Washburn Institute of Technology, against 49% at Kansas Wesleyan 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.