Head-to-head comparison
Valparaiso University vs Wabash College: which has better ROI?
Option A Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso University
- Net price / year
- $18,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,191
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Crawfordsville, IN
Wabash College
- Net price / year
- $24,336
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,952
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Wabash College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,344 in 4.5 years versus 5 years at Valparaiso University, on median earnings of $69,952 vs $63,191 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Valparaiso University | Wabash College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,578 | $24,336 |
| Total net cost | $74,312 | $97,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,191 | $69,952 |
| Median debt | $26,942 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $222,308 | $334,496 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Valparaiso University or Wabash College?
Valparaiso University, at $18,578 a year after aid versus $24,336 — a gap of $5,758 a year, or $23,032 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 Valparaiso University or Wabash College graduates earn more?
Wabash College graduates report a median $69,952 ten years after entry, $6,761 more than the $63,191 at Valparaiso 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, Valparaiso University or Wabash College?
Valparaiso University: its completers carry a median $26,942 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wabash College, a difference of $58. 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?
77% of students finish at Wabash College, against 70% at Valparaiso 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.