Head-to-head comparison
Madonna University vs Albion College: which has better ROI?
Option A Livonia, MI
Madonna University
- Net price / year
- $17,755
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,058
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
Option B Albion, MI
Albion College
- Net price / year
- $14,301
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,799
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Albion College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,204 in 5.5 years versus 6.6 years at Madonna University, on median earnings of $58,799 vs $59,058 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Madonna University | Albion College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,755 | $14,301 |
| Total net cost | $71,020 | $57,204 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,058 | $58,799 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $142,940 | $151,576 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Madonna University or Albion College?
Albion College, at $14,301 a year after aid versus $17,755 — a gap of $3,454 a year, or $13,816 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 Madonna University or Albion College graduates earn more?
Madonna University graduates report a median $59,058 ten years after entry, $259 more than the $58,799 at Albion College. 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, Madonna University or Albion College?
Madonna University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Albion College, a difference of $4,000. 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?
62% of students finish at Albion College, against 60% at Madonna 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.