Head-to-head comparison
Mercy University vs Roberts Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Dobbs Ferry, NY
Mercy University
- Net price / year
- $14,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,055
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Option B Rochester, NY
Roberts Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $23,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,031
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Roberts Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,520 in 13.9 years versus 15.2 years at Mercy University, on median earnings of $55,031 vs $52,055 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mercy University | Roberts Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,072 | $23,130 |
| Total net cost | $56,288 | $92,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,055 | $55,031 |
| Median debt | $19,637 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $17,612 | $40,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mercy University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Mercy University, at $14,072 a year after aid versus $23,130 — a gap of $9,058 a year, or $36,232 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 Mercy University or Roberts Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Roberts Wesleyan University graduates report a median $55,031 ten years after entry, $2,976 more than the $52,055 at Mercy 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, Mercy University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Mercy University: its completers carry a median $19,637 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Roberts Wesleyan University, a difference of $4,113. 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?
67% of students finish at Roberts Wesleyan University, against 46% at Mercy 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.