Head-to-head comparison
Mary Baldwin University vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Option A Staunton, VA
Mary Baldwin University
- Net price / year
- $12,756
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,427
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Salem, VA
American National University
- Net price / year
- $18,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,370
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mary Baldwin University comes closer — median earnings $44,427 against a $51,024 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mary Baldwin University | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,756 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $51,024 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,427 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | $26,586 | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$129,684 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mary Baldwin University or American National University?
Mary Baldwin University, at $12,756 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $5,280 a year, or $14,952 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 Mary Baldwin University or American National University graduates earn more?
Mary Baldwin University graduates report a median $44,427 ten years after entry, $18,057 more than the $26,370 at American National 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, Mary Baldwin University or American National University?
American National University: its completers carry a median $12,814 in federal loans versus $26,586 at Mary Baldwin University, a difference of $13,772. 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?
39% of students finish at Mary Baldwin University, against 33% at American National 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.