Head-to-head comparison
University of Mount Union vs Mount St. Joseph University: which has better ROI?
Option A Alliance, OH
University of Mount Union
- Net price / year
- $23,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,217
- Payback
- 19.2 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Mount St. Joseph University
- Net price / year
- $16,530
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,509
- Payback
- 21 yrs
University of Mount Union has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,120 in 19.2 years versus 21 years at Mount St. Joseph University, on median earnings of $53,217 vs $51,509 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Mount Union | Mount St. Joseph University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,280 | $16,530 |
| Total net cost | $93,120 | $66,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,217 | $51,509 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,827 |
| Payback | 19.2 yrs | 21 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $4,020 | -$3,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Mount Union or Mount St. Joseph University?
Mount St. Joseph University, at $16,530 a year after aid versus $23,280 — a gap of $6,750 a year, or $27,000 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 Mount Union or Mount St. Joseph University graduates earn more?
University of Mount Union graduates report a median $53,217 ten years after entry, $1,708 more than the $51,509 at Mount St. Joseph 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 Mount Union or Mount St. Joseph University?
Mount St. Joseph University: its completers carry a median $26,827 in federal loans versus $27,000 at University of Mount Union, a difference of $173. 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?
59% of students finish at University of Mount Union, against 56% at Mount St. Joseph 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.