Head-to-head comparison
Lindenwood University vs Avila University: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Charles, MO
Lindenwood University
- Net price / year
- $19,638
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,278
- Payback
- 16 yrs
Option B Kansas City, MO
Avila University
- Net price / year
- $16,053
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,773
- Payback
- 14.6 yrs
Avila University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $64,212 in 14.6 years versus 16 years at Lindenwood University, on median earnings of $52,773 vs $53,278 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lindenwood University | Avila University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,638 | $16,053 |
| Total net cost | $78,552 | $64,212 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,278 | $52,773 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 16 yrs | 14.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,808 | $24,048 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lindenwood University or Avila University?
Avila University, at $16,053 a year after aid versus $19,638 — a gap of $3,585 a year, or $14,340 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 Lindenwood University or Avila University graduates earn more?
Lindenwood University graduates report a median $53,278 ten years after entry, $505 more than the $52,773 at Avila 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, Lindenwood University or Avila University?
Avila University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lindenwood 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?
52% of students finish at Avila University, against 49% at Lindenwood 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.