Head-to-head comparison
Midwestern State University vs Austin College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wichita Falls, TX
Midwestern State University
- Net price / year
- $11,656
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,747
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
Option B Sherman, TX
Austin College
- Net price / year
- $21,107
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,296
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Midwestern State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $46,624 in 6.3 years versus 6.5 years at Austin College, on median earnings of $55,747 vs $61,296 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Midwestern State University | Austin College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,656 | $21,107 |
| Total net cost | $46,624 | $84,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,747 | $61,296 |
| Median debt | $21,030 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $101,116 | $174,292 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Midwestern State University or Austin College?
Midwestern State University, at $11,656 a year after aid versus $21,107 — a gap of $9,451 a year, or $37,804 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 Midwestern State University or Austin College graduates earn more?
Austin College graduates report a median $61,296 ten years after entry, $5,549 more than the $55,747 at Midwestern State 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, Midwestern State University or Austin College?
Midwestern State University: its completers carry a median $21,030 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Austin College, a difference of $3,470. 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 Austin College, against 43% at Midwestern State 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.