Head-to-head comparison
Wartburg College vs Morningside University: 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 Sioux City, IA
Morningside University
- Net price / year
- $31,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,494
- Payback
- 17.6 yrs
Wartburg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $131,632 in 16.8 years versus 17.6 years at Morningside University, on median earnings of $56,201 vs $55,494 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wartburg College | Morningside University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,908 | $31,320 |
| Total net cost | $131,632 | $125,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,201 | $55,494 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,028 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 17.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,188 | $17,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wartburg College or Morningside University?
Morningside University, at $31,320 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $1,588 a year, or $6,352 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 Morningside University graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $707 more than the $55,494 at Morningside 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, Wartburg College or Morningside University?
Morningside University: its completers carry a median $26,028 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wartburg College, a difference of $972. 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 50% at Morningside 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.