Head-to-head comparison
Lipscomb University vs Bryan College-Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Lipscomb University
- Net price / year
- $24,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,541
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Option B Dayton, TN
Bryan College-Dayton
- Net price / year
- $20,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,434
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Bryan College-Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,456 in 13.6 years versus 13.8 years at Lipscomb University, on median earnings of $54,434 vs $55,541 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lipscomb University | Bryan College-Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,739 | $20,614 |
| Total net cost | $98,956 | $82,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,541 | $54,434 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 13.8 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $44,664 | $39,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lipscomb University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Bryan College-Dayton, at $20,614 a year after aid versus $24,739 — a gap of $4,125 a year, or $16,500 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 Lipscomb University or Bryan College-Dayton graduates earn more?
Lipscomb University graduates report a median $55,541 ten years after entry, $1,107 more than the $54,434 at Bryan College-Dayton. 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, Lipscomb University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Lipscomb University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bryan College-Dayton, a difference of $3,500. 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?
72% of students finish at Lipscomb University, against 50% at Bryan College-Dayton. 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.