Head-to-head comparison
Olivet Nazarene University vs Knox College: which has better ROI?
Option A Bourbonnais, IL
Olivet Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $20,729
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,213
- Payback
- 17.1 yrs
Option B Galesburg, IL
Knox College
- Net price / year
- $24,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,820
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Knox College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,380 in 15.2 years versus 17.1 years at Olivet Nazarene University, on median earnings of $54,820 vs $53,213 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Olivet Nazarene University | Knox College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,729 | $24,595 |
| Total net cost | $82,916 | $98,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,213 | $54,820 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 17.1 yrs | 15.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $14,144 | $30,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Olivet Nazarene University or Knox College?
Olivet Nazarene University, at $20,729 a year after aid versus $24,595 — a gap of $3,866 a year, or $15,464 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 Olivet Nazarene University or Knox College graduates earn more?
Knox College graduates report a median $54,820 ten years after entry, $1,607 more than the $53,213 at Olivet 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, Olivet Nazarene University or Knox College?
Olivet Nazarene University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Knox College, a difference of $2,000. 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 Knox College, against 61% at Olivet 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.