Head-to-head comparison
Waldorf University vs Dordt University: which has better ROI?
Option A Forest City, IA
Waldorf University
- Net price / year
- $19,693
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,165
- Payback
- 28.1 yrs
Option B Sioux Center, IA
Dordt University
- Net price / year
- $25,807
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,559
- Payback
- 24.6 yrs
Dordt University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $103,228 in 24.6 years versus 28.1 years at Waldorf University, on median earnings of $52,559 vs $51,165 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Waldorf University | Dordt University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,693 | $25,807 |
| Total net cost | $78,772 | $103,228 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,165 | $52,559 |
| Median debt | $18,752 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 28.1 yrs | 24.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$22,672 | -$19,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Waldorf University or Dordt University?
Waldorf University, at $19,693 a year after aid versus $25,807 — a gap of $6,114 a year, or $24,456 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 Waldorf University or Dordt University graduates earn more?
Dordt University graduates report a median $52,559 ten years after entry, $1,394 more than the $51,165 at Waldorf 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, Waldorf University or Dordt University?
Waldorf University: its completers carry a median $18,752 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Dordt University, a difference of $2,748. 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?
70% of students finish at Dordt University, against 21% at Waldorf 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.