Head-to-head comparison
Pittsburg State University vs Friends University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburg, KS
Pittsburg State University
- Net price / year
- $15,784
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,579
- Payback
- 28.5 yrs
Option B Wichita, KS
Friends University
- Net price / year
- $27,715
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,113
- Payback
- 29.5 yrs
Pittsburg State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,136 in 28.5 years versus 29.5 years at Friends University, on median earnings of $50,579 vs $52,113 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pittsburg State University | Friends University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,784 | $27,715 |
| Total net cost | $63,136 | $110,860 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,579 | $52,113 |
| Median debt | $18,969 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 28.5 yrs | 29.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$18,756 | -$35,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pittsburg State University or Friends University?
Pittsburg State University, at $15,784 a year after aid versus $27,715 — a gap of $11,931 a year, or $47,724 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 Pittsburg State University or Friends University graduates earn more?
Friends University graduates report a median $52,113 ten years after entry, $1,534 more than the $50,579 at Pittsburg State 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, Pittsburg State University or Friends University?
Pittsburg State University: its completers carry a median $18,969 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Friends University, a difference of $6,031. 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?
57% of students finish at Pittsburg State University, against 43% at Friends 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.