Head-to-head comparison
Saint Louis University vs William Jewell College: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Louis, MO
Saint Louis University
- Net price / year
- $24,398
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,783
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Option B Liberty, MO
William Jewell College
- Net price / year
- $17,562
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,268
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Saint Louis University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,592 in 4.4 years versus 6.4 years at William Jewell College, on median earnings of $70,783 vs $59,268 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Louis University | William Jewell College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,398 | $17,562 |
| Total net cost | $97,592 | $70,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,783 | $59,268 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $24,498 |
| Payback | 4.4 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $350,868 | $147,912 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Louis University or William Jewell College?
William Jewell College, at $17,562 a year after aid versus $24,398 — a gap of $6,836 a year, or $27,344 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 Saint Louis University or William Jewell College graduates earn more?
Saint Louis University graduates report a median $70,783 ten years after entry, $11,515 more than the $59,268 at William Jewell College. 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, Saint Louis University or William Jewell College?
William Jewell College: its completers carry a median $24,498 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Saint Louis University, a difference of $502. 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?
80% of students finish at Saint Louis University, against 68% at William Jewell 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.