Head-to-head comparison
Mount Vernon Nazarene University vs Lake Erie 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 Painesville, OH
Lake Erie College
- Net price / year
- $20,961
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,417
- Payback
- 40.8 yrs
Lake Erie College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,844 in 40.8 years versus 75 years at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, on median earnings of $50,417 vs $49,555 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Lake Erie College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,421 | $20,961 |
| Total net cost | $89,684 | $83,844 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,555 | $50,417 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 40.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$65,784 | -$42,704 |
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 Lake Erie College?
Lake Erie College, at $20,961 a year after aid versus $22,421 — a gap of $1,460 a year, or $5,840 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 Lake Erie College graduates earn more?
Lake Erie College graduates report a median $50,417 ten years after entry, $862 more than the $49,555 at Mount Vernon Nazarene 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, Mount Vernon Nazarene University or Lake Erie College?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lake Erie 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?
68% of students finish at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, against 38% at Lake Erie 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.