Head-to-head comparison
Muskingum University vs Wilmington College: 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 Wilmington, OH
Wilmington College
- Net price / year
- $24,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,491
- Payback
- 737.5 yrs
Wilmington College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $96,612 in 737.5 years versus 976.6 years at Muskingum University, on median earnings of $48,491 vs $48,440 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Muskingum University | Wilmington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,532 | $24,153 |
| Total net cost | $78,128 | $96,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,440 | $48,491 |
| Median debt | $25,369 | $24,208 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | 737.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | -$93,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Muskingum University or Wilmington College?
Muskingum University, at $19,532 a year after aid versus $24,153 — a gap of $4,621 a year, or $18,484 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 Wilmington College graduates earn more?
Wilmington College graduates report a median $48,491 ten years after entry, $51 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 Wilmington College?
Wilmington College: its completers carry a median $24,208 in federal loans versus $25,369 at Muskingum University, a difference of $1,161. 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 47% at Wilmington 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.