Head-to-head comparison
University of Dubuque vs Cornell College: which has better ROI?
Option A Dubuque, IA
University of Dubuque
- Net price / year
- $23,386
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,190
- Payback
- 33.1 yrs
Option B Mount Vernon, IA
Cornell College
- Net price / year
- $23,634
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,460
- Payback
- 18.5 yrs
Cornell College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $94,536 in 18.5 years versus 33.1 years at University of Dubuque, on median earnings of $53,460 vs $51,190 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Dubuque | Cornell College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,386 | $23,634 |
| Total net cost | $93,544 | $94,536 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,190 | $53,460 |
| Median debt | $25,750 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 33.1 yrs | 18.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$36,944 | $7,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Dubuque or Cornell College?
University of Dubuque, at $23,386 a year after aid versus $23,634 — a gap of $248 a year, or $992 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 University of Dubuque or Cornell College graduates earn more?
Cornell College graduates report a median $53,460 ten years after entry, $2,270 more than the $51,190 at University of Dubuque. 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, University of Dubuque or Cornell College?
University of Dubuque: its completers carry a median $25,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Cornell College, a difference of $1,250. 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?
62% of students finish at Cornell College, against 40% at University of Dubuque. 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.