Head-to-head comparison
LeTourneau University vs Southwestern University: which has better ROI?
Option A Longview, TX
LeTourneau University
- Net price / year
- $28,185
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,103
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
Option B Georgetown, TX
Southwestern University
- Net price / year
- $29,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,878
- Payback
- 13.7 yrs
LeTourneau University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,740 in 12.9 years versus 13.7 years at Southwestern University, on median earnings of $57,103 vs $56,878 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | LeTourneau University | Southwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,185 | $29,224 |
| Total net cost | $112,740 | $116,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,103 | $56,878 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 12.9 yrs | 13.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $62,120 | $53,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, LeTourneau University or Southwestern University?
LeTourneau University, at $28,185 a year after aid versus $29,224 — a gap of $1,039 a year, or $4,156 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 LeTourneau University or Southwestern University graduates earn more?
LeTourneau University graduates report a median $57,103 ten years after entry, $225 more than the $56,878 at Southwestern 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, LeTourneau University or Southwestern University?
Southwestern University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at LeTourneau 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?
73% of students finish at Southwestern University, against 59% at LeTourneau 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.