Head-to-head comparison
Lubbock Christian University vs Southwestern Adventist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lubbock, TX
Lubbock Christian University
- Net price / year
- $24,456
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,787
- Payback
- 18 yrs
Option B Keene, TX
Southwestern Adventist University
- Net price / year
- $22,778
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,946
- Payback
- 19.9 yrs
Lubbock Christian University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,824 in 18 years versus 19.9 years at Southwestern Adventist University, on median earnings of $53,787 vs $52,946 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lubbock Christian University | Southwestern Adventist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,456 | $22,778 |
| Total net cost | $97,824 | $91,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,787 | $52,946 |
| Median debt | $20,948 | $26,998 |
| Payback | 18 yrs | 19.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,716 | $608 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lubbock Christian University or Southwestern Adventist University?
Southwestern Adventist University, at $22,778 a year after aid versus $24,456 — a gap of $1,678 a year, or $6,712 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 Lubbock Christian University or Southwestern Adventist University graduates earn more?
Lubbock Christian University graduates report a median $53,787 ten years after entry, $841 more than the $52,946 at Southwestern Adventist 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, Lubbock Christian University or Southwestern Adventist University?
Lubbock Christian University: its completers carry a median $20,948 in federal loans versus $26,998 at Southwestern Adventist University, a difference of $6,050. 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 Southwestern Adventist University, against 51% at Lubbock Christian 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.