Head-to-head comparison
Mount Vernon Nazarene University vs Defiance College: which has better ROI?
Option A Mount Vernon, OH
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $22,421
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,555
- Payback
- 75 yrs
Option B Defiance, OH
Defiance College
- Net price / year
- $26,337
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,351
- Payback
- 106.3 yrs
Mount Vernon Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,684 in 75 years versus 106.3 years at Defiance College, on median earnings of $49,555 vs $49,351 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Defiance College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,421 | $26,337 |
| Total net cost | $89,684 | $105,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,555 | $49,351 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,813 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 106.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$65,784 | -$85,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mount Vernon Nazarene University or Defiance College?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University, at $22,421 a year after aid versus $26,337 — a gap of $3,916 a year, or $15,664 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University or Defiance College graduates earn more?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduates report a median $49,555 ten years after entry, $204 more than the $49,351 at Defiance College. 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, Mount Vernon Nazarene University or Defiance College?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,813 at Defiance College, a difference of $1,813. 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?
68% of students finish at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, against 31% at Defiance College. 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.