Head-to-head comparison
Marymount University vs Hampden-Sydney College: which has better ROI?
Option A Arlington, VA
Marymount University
- Net price / year
- $29,137
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,516
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Option B Hampden-Sydney, VA
Hampden-Sydney College
- Net price / year
- $22,400
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,640
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Hampden-Sydney College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,600 in 4.6 years versus 6.1 years at Marymount University, on median earnings of $67,640 vs $67,516 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marymount University | Hampden-Sydney College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,137 | $22,400 |
| Total net cost | $116,548 | $89,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,516 | $67,640 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $266,572 | $296,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marymount University or Hampden-Sydney College?
Hampden-Sydney College, at $22,400 a year after aid versus $29,137 — a gap of $6,737 a year, or $26,948 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 Marymount University or Hampden-Sydney College graduates earn more?
Hampden-Sydney College graduates report a median $67,640 ten years after entry, $124 more than the $67,516 at Marymount 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, Marymount University or Hampden-Sydney College?
Marymount University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Hampden-Sydney College, a difference of $1,000. 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 Hampden-Sydney College, against 54% at Marymount 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.