Head-to-head comparison
Northwood University vs Siena Heights University: which has better ROI?
Option A Midland, MI
Northwood University
- Net price / year
- $27,232
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,075
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Option B Adrian, MI
Siena Heights University
- Net price / year
- $17,124
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,529
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Northwood University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $108,928 in 7.4 years versus 7.5 years at Siena Heights University, on median earnings of $63,075 vs $57,529 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northwood University | Siena Heights University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,232 | $17,124 |
| Total net cost | $108,928 | $68,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,075 | $57,529 |
| Median debt | $20,842 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 7.4 yrs | 7.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $185,372 | $114,884 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northwood University or Siena Heights University?
Siena Heights University, at $17,124 a year after aid versus $27,232 — a gap of $10,108 a year, or $40,432 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 Northwood University or Siena Heights University graduates earn more?
Northwood University graduates report a median $63,075 ten years after entry, $5,546 more than the $57,529 at Siena Heights 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, Northwood University or Siena Heights University?
Siena Heights University: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $20,842 at Northwood University, a difference of $2,092. 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?
63% of students finish at Northwood University, against 39% at Siena Heights 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.