Head-to-head comparison
Upper Iowa University vs Wartburg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fayette, IA
Upper Iowa University
- Net price / year
- $20,942
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,766
- Payback
- 19 yrs
Option B Waverly, IA
Wartburg College
- Net price / year
- $32,908
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,201
- Payback
- 16.8 yrs
Wartburg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $131,632 in 16.8 years versus 19 years at Upper Iowa University, on median earnings of $56,201 vs $52,766 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Upper Iowa University | Wartburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,942 | $32,908 |
| Total net cost | $83,768 | $131,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,766 | $56,201 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 19 yrs | 16.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $4,352 | $25,188 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Upper Iowa University or Wartburg College?
Upper Iowa University, at $20,942 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $11,966 a year, or $47,864 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 Upper Iowa University or Wartburg College graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $3,435 more than the $52,766 at Upper Iowa 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, Upper Iowa University or Wartburg College?
Upper Iowa University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wartburg College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
64% of students finish at Wartburg College, against 34% at Upper Iowa 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.