Head-to-head comparison
Kenyon College vs Walsh University: 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 North Canton, OH
Walsh University
- Net price / year
- $20,493
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,764
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Kenyon College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $154,048 in 6.6 years versus 7.2 years at Walsh University, on median earnings of $71,830 vs $59,764 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kenyon College | Walsh University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,512 | $20,493 |
| Total net cost | $154,048 | $81,972 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,830 | $59,764 |
| Median debt | $18,527 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $315,352 | $146,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kenyon College or Walsh University?
Walsh University, at $20,493 a year after aid versus $38,512 — a gap of $18,019 a year, or $72,076 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 Walsh University graduates earn more?
Kenyon College graduates report a median $71,830 ten years after entry, $12,066 more than the $59,764 at Walsh 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, Kenyon College or Walsh University?
Kenyon College: its completers carry a median $18,527 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Walsh University, a difference of $8,473. 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 59% at Walsh 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.