Head-to-head comparison
Stetson University vs Eckerd College: which has better ROI?
Option A DeLand, FL
Stetson University
- Net price / year
- $19,372
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,642
- Payback
- 23.6 yrs
Option B Saint Petersburg, FL
Eckerd College
- Net price / year
- $38,071
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,819
- Payback
- 44 yrs
Stetson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,488 in 23.6 years versus 44 years at Eckerd College, on median earnings of $51,642 vs $51,819 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stetson University | Eckerd College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,372 | $38,071 |
| Total net cost | $77,488 | $152,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,642 | $51,819 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 23.6 yrs | 44 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,848 | -$83,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stetson University or Eckerd College?
Stetson University, at $19,372 a year after aid versus $38,071 — a gap of $18,699 a year, or $74,796 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 Stetson University or Eckerd College graduates earn more?
Eckerd College graduates report a median $51,819 ten years after entry, $177 more than the $51,642 at Stetson 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, Stetson University or Eckerd College?
Stetson University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Eckerd College, a difference of $3,750. 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?
66% of students finish at Eckerd College, against 62% at Stetson 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.