Head-to-head comparison
Temple University vs Waynesburg University: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Temple University
- Net price / year
- $28,198
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,727
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Option B Waynesburg, PA
Waynesburg University
- Net price / year
- $18,235
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,537
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Waynesburg University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $72,940 in 7.2 years versus 7.3 years at Temple University, on median earnings of $58,537 vs $63,727 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Temple University | Waynesburg University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,198 | $18,235 |
| Total net cost | $112,792 | $72,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,727 | $58,537 |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $194,548 | $130,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Temple University or Waynesburg University?
Waynesburg University, at $18,235 a year after aid versus $28,198 — a gap of $9,963 a year, or $39,852 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 Temple University or Waynesburg University graduates earn more?
Temple University graduates report a median $63,727 ten years after entry, $5,190 more than the $58,537 at Waynesburg 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, Temple University or Waynesburg University?
Temple University: its completers carry a median $24,395 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Waynesburg University, a difference of $2,605. 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?
75% of students finish at Temple University, against 66% at Waynesburg 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.