Head-to-head comparison
Trine University vs Hanover College: which has better ROI?
Option A Angola, IN
Trine University
- Net price / year
- $25,355
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,165
- Payback
- 11.5 yrs
Option B Hanover, IN
Hanover College
- Net price / year
- $21,829
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,957
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Trine University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,420 in 11.5 years versus 15.6 years at Hanover College, on median earnings of $57,165 vs $53,957 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trine University | Hanover College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,355 | $21,829 |
| Total net cost | $101,420 | $87,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,165 | $53,957 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,250 |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | 15.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $74,680 | $24,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Trine University or Hanover College?
Hanover College, at $21,829 a year after aid versus $25,355 — a gap of $3,526 a year, or $14,104 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 Trine University or Hanover College graduates earn more?
Trine University graduates report a median $57,165 ten years after entry, $3,208 more than the $53,957 at Hanover 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, Trine University or Hanover College?
Trine University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Hanover College, a difference of $250. 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?
67% of students finish at Hanover College, against 64% at Trine 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.