Head-to-head comparison
Wartburg College vs Central College: which has better ROI?
Option A Waverly, IA
Wartburg College
- Net price / year
- $32,908
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,201
- Payback
- 16.8 yrs
Option B Pella, IA
Central College
- Net price / year
- $23,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,317
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Central College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,508 in 15.7 years versus 16.8 years at Wartburg College, on median earnings of $54,317 vs $56,201 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wartburg College | Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,908 | $23,377 |
| Total net cost | $131,632 | $93,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,201 | $54,317 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,984 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,188 | $25,632 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wartburg College or Central College?
Central College, at $23,377 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $9,531 a year, or $38,124 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 Wartburg College or Central College graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $1,884 more than the $54,317 at Central College. 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, Wartburg College or Central College?
Central College: its completers carry a median $26,984 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wartburg College, a difference of $16. 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?
66% of students finish at Central College, against 64% at Wartburg College. 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.