Head-to-head comparison
Washburn University vs Bethany College: which has better ROI?
Option A Topeka, KS
Washburn University
- Net price / year
- $15,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,774
- Payback
- 43.2 yrs
Option B Lindsborg, KS
Bethany College
- Net price / year
- $27,686
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,694
- Payback
- 83 yrs
Washburn University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,120 in 43.2 years versus 83 years at Bethany College, on median earnings of $49,774 vs $49,694 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Washburn University | Bethany College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,280 | $27,686 |
| Total net cost | $61,120 | $110,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,774 | $49,694 |
| Median debt | $18,127 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 43.2 yrs | 83 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$32,840 | -$84,064 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Washburn University or Bethany College?
Washburn University, at $15,280 a year after aid versus $27,686 — a gap of $12,406 a year, or $49,624 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 Washburn University or Bethany College graduates earn more?
Washburn University graduates report a median $49,774 ten years after entry, $80 more than the $49,694 at Bethany 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, Washburn University or Bethany College?
Washburn University: its completers carry a median $18,127 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Bethany College, a difference of $5,123. 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?
53% of students finish at Washburn University, against 36% at Bethany 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.