Head-to-head comparison
Union University vs Bryan College-Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Jackson, TN
Union University
- Net price / year
- $27,171
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,990
- Payback
- 19.3 yrs
Option B Dayton, TN
Bryan College-Dayton
- Net price / year
- $20,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,434
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Bryan College-Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,456 in 13.6 years versus 19.3 years at Union University, on median earnings of $54,434 vs $53,990 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Union University | Bryan College-Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,171 | $20,614 |
| Total net cost | $108,684 | $82,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,990 | $54,434 |
| Median debt | $20,714 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,916 | $39,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Union University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Bryan College-Dayton, at $20,614 a year after aid versus $27,171 — a gap of $6,557 a year, or $26,228 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 Union University or Bryan College-Dayton graduates earn more?
Bryan College-Dayton graduates report a median $54,434 ten years after entry, $444 more than the $53,990 at Union 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, Union University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Union University: its completers carry a median $20,714 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bryan College-Dayton, a difference of $2,286. 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 Union University, against 50% at Bryan College-Dayton. 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.