Head-to-head comparison
University of Dubuque vs William Penn University: 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 Oskaloosa, IA
William Penn University
- Net price / year
- $22,601
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,936
- Payback
- 157 yrs
University of Dubuque has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,544 in 33.1 years versus 157 years at William Penn University, on median earnings of $51,190 vs $48,936 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Dubuque | William Penn University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,386 | $22,601 |
| Total net cost | $93,544 | $90,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,190 | $48,936 |
| Median debt | $25,750 | $22,415 |
| Payback | 33.1 yrs | 157 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$36,944 | -$78,884 |
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 William Penn University?
William Penn University, at $22,601 a year after aid versus $23,386 — a gap of $785 a year, or $3,140 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 William Penn University graduates earn more?
University of Dubuque graduates report a median $51,190 ten years after entry, $2,254 more than the $48,936 at William Penn 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, University of Dubuque or William Penn University?
William Penn University: its completers carry a median $22,415 in federal loans versus $25,750 at University of Dubuque, a difference of $3,335. 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?
40% of students finish at University of Dubuque, against 33% at William Penn 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.