Head-to-head comparison
Mount Vernon Nazarene University vs Warren County Career Center: 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 Lebanon, OH
Warren County Career Center
- Net price / year
- $24,731
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,016
- Payback
- 150.8 yrs
Mount Vernon Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,684 in 75 years versus 150.8 years at Warren County Career Center, on median earnings of $49,555 vs $49,016 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Warren County Career Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,421 | $24,731 |
| Total net cost | $89,684 | $98,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,555 | $49,016 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $5,500 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 150.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$65,784 | -$85,804 |
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 Warren County Career Center?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University, at $22,421 a year after aid versus $24,731 — a gap of $2,310 a year, or $9,240 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 Warren County Career Center graduates earn more?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduates report a median $49,555 ten years after entry, $539 more than the $49,016 at Warren County Career Center. 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 Warren County Career Center?
Warren County Career Center: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, a difference of $19,500. 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?
77% of students finish at Warren County Career Center, against 68% at Mount Vernon Nazarene 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.