Head-to-head comparison
Kenyon College vs Miami University-Middletown: which has better ROI?
Option A Gambier, OH
Kenyon College
- Net price / year
- $38,512
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,830
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
Option B Middletown, OH
Miami University-Middletown
- Net price / year
- $10,809
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,076
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Miami University-Middletown has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $43,236 in 6.4 years versus 6.6 years at Kenyon College, on median earnings of $55,076 vs $71,830 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kenyon College | Miami University-Middletown |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,512 | $10,809 |
| Total net cost | $154,048 | $43,236 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,830 | $55,076 |
| Median debt | $18,527 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $315,352 | $91,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kenyon College or Miami University-Middletown?
Miami University-Middletown, at $10,809 a year after aid versus $38,512 — a gap of $27,703 a year, or $110,812 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 Kenyon College or Miami University-Middletown graduates earn more?
Kenyon College graduates report a median $71,830 ten years after entry, $16,754 more than the $55,076 at Miami University-Middletown. 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, Kenyon College or Miami University-Middletown?
Kenyon College: its completers carry a median $18,527 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Miami University-Middletown, a difference of $4,473. 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?
82% of students finish at Kenyon College, against 32% at Miami University-Middletown. 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.