Head-to-head comparison
Southern Nazarene University vs Southwest Technology Center: which has better ROI?
Option A Bethany, OK
Southern Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $22,084
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,951
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Option B Altus, OK
Southwest Technology Center
- Net price / year
- $14,313
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,966
- Payback
- 94.5 yrs
Southern Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,336 in 13.4 years versus 94.5 years at Southwest Technology Center, on median earnings of $54,951 vs $48,966 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Nazarene University | Southwest Technology Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,084 | $14,313 |
| Total net cost | $88,336 | $57,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,951 | $48,966 |
| Median debt | $21,900 | — |
| Payback | 13.4 yrs | 94.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $43,484 | -$45,132 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Nazarene University or Southwest Technology Center?
Southwest Technology Center, at $14,313 a year after aid versus $22,084 — a gap of $7,771 a year, or $31,084 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 Southern Nazarene University or Southwest Technology Center graduates earn more?
Southern Nazarene University graduates report a median $54,951 ten years after entry, $5,985 more than the $48,966 at Southwest Technology Center. 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 graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Southwest Technology Center, against 51% at Southern 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.