Head-to-head comparison
Muskingum University vs Heidelberg University: which has better ROI?
Option A New Concord, OH
Muskingum University
- Net price / year
- $19,532
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,440
- Payback
- 976.6 yrs
Option B Tiffin, OH
Heidelberg University
- Net price / year
- $20,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,466
- Payback
- 775.7 yrs
Heidelberg University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,224 in 775.7 years versus 976.6 years at Muskingum University, on median earnings of $48,466 vs $48,440 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Muskingum University | Heidelberg University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,532 | $20,556 |
| Total net cost | $78,128 | $82,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,440 | $48,466 |
| Median debt | $25,369 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | 775.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | -$80,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Muskingum University or Heidelberg University?
Muskingum University, at $19,532 a year after aid versus $20,556 — a gap of $1,024 a year, or $4,096 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 Muskingum University or Heidelberg University graduates earn more?
Heidelberg University graduates report a median $48,466 ten years after entry, $26 more than the $48,440 at Muskingum 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, Muskingum University or Heidelberg University?
Muskingum University: its completers carry a median $25,369 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Heidelberg University, a difference of $1,631. 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?
56% of students finish at Muskingum University, against 52% at Heidelberg 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.