Head-to-head comparison
Wabash College vs Marian University-Ancilla: which has better ROI?
Option A Crawfordsville, IN
Wabash College
- Net price / year
- $24,336
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,952
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Plymouth, IN
Marian University-Ancilla
- Net price / year
- $19,463
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,759
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Marian University-Ancilla has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $38,926 in 3.7 years versus 4.5 years at Wabash College, on median earnings of $58,759 vs $69,952 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wabash College | Marian University-Ancilla |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,336 | $19,463 |
| Total net cost | $97,344 | $38,926 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,952 | $58,759 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $334,496 | $169,054 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wabash College or Marian University-Ancilla?
Marian University-Ancilla, at $19,463 a year after aid versus $24,336 — a gap of $4,873 a year, or $58,418 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 Wabash College or Marian University-Ancilla graduates earn more?
Wabash College graduates report a median $69,952 ten years after entry, $11,193 more than the $58,759 at Marian University-Ancilla. 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, Wabash College or Marian University-Ancilla?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.