Head-to-head comparison
Lindenwood University vs Webster 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 Saint Louis, MO
Webster University
- Net price / year
- $27,047
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,876
- Payback
- 43 yrs
Lindenwood University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,552 in 16 years versus 43 years at Webster University, on median earnings of $53,278 vs $50,876 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lindenwood University | Webster University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,638 | $27,047 |
| Total net cost | $78,552 | $108,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,278 | $50,876 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 16 yrs | 43 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,808 | -$57,868 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lindenwood University or Webster University?
Lindenwood University, at $19,638 a year after aid versus $27,047 — a gap of $7,409 a year, or $29,636 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 Webster University graduates earn more?
Lindenwood University graduates report a median $53,278 ten years after entry, $2,402 more than the $50,876 at Webster 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 Webster University?
Webster University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lindenwood University, a difference of $3,000. 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?
64% of students finish at Webster 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.