Head-to-head comparison
Lake Erie College vs Bluffton University: which has better ROI?
Option A Painesville, OH
Lake Erie College
- Net price / year
- $20,961
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,417
- Payback
- 40.8 yrs
Option B Bluffton, OH
Bluffton University
- Net price / year
- $19,943
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,547
- Payback
- 67.2 yrs
Lake Erie College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,844 in 40.8 years versus 67.2 years at Bluffton University, on median earnings of $50,417 vs $49,547 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Erie College | Bluffton University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,961 | $19,943 |
| Total net cost | $83,844 | $79,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,417 | $49,547 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 40.8 yrs | 67.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$42,704 | -$56,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lake Erie College or Bluffton University?
Bluffton University, at $19,943 a year after aid versus $20,961 — a gap of $1,018 a year, or $4,072 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 Lake Erie College or Bluffton University graduates earn more?
Lake Erie College graduates report a median $50,417 ten years after entry, $870 more than the $49,547 at Bluffton 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, Lake Erie College or Bluffton University?
Lake Erie College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bluffton University, a difference of $1,000. 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?
53% of students finish at Bluffton University, against 38% at Lake Erie College. 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.