Head-to-head comparison
Marian University vs Mount Mary University: which has better ROI?
Option A Fond Du Lac, WI
Marian University
- Net price / year
- $21,937
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,501
- Payback
- 17.1 yrs
Option B Milwaukee, WI
Mount Mary University
- Net price / year
- $20,144
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,745
- Payback
- 209.3 yrs
Marian University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,748 in 17.1 years versus 209.3 years at Mount Mary University, on median earnings of $53,501 vs $48,745 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marian University | Mount Mary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,937 | $20,144 |
| Total net cost | $87,748 | $80,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,501 | $48,745 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 17.1 yrs | 209.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $15,072 | -$72,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marian University or Mount Mary University?
Mount Mary University, at $20,144 a year after aid versus $21,937 — a gap of $1,793 a year, or $7,172 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 Marian University or Mount Mary University graduates earn more?
Marian University graduates report a median $53,501 ten years after entry, $4,756 more than the $48,745 at Mount Mary 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, Marian University or Mount Mary University?
Marian University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,288 at Mount Mary University, a difference of $288. 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?
44% of students finish at Marian University, against 43% at Mount Mary 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.