Head-to-head comparison
Washburn University vs Pittsburg State University: 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 Pittsburg, KS
Pittsburg State University
- Net price / year
- $15,784
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,579
- Payback
- 28.5 yrs
Pittsburg State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,136 in 28.5 years versus 43.2 years at Washburn University, on median earnings of $50,579 vs $49,774 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Washburn University | Pittsburg State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,280 | $15,784 |
| Total net cost | $61,120 | $63,136 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,774 | $50,579 |
| Median debt | $18,127 | $18,969 |
| Payback | 43.2 yrs | 28.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$32,840 | -$18,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Washburn University or Pittsburg State University?
Washburn University, at $15,280 a year after aid versus $15,784 — a gap of $504 a year, or $2,016 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 Pittsburg State University graduates earn more?
Pittsburg State University graduates report a median $50,579 ten years after entry, $805 more than the $49,774 at Washburn 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, Washburn University or Pittsburg State University?
Washburn University: its completers carry a median $18,127 in federal loans versus $18,969 at Pittsburg State University, a difference of $842. 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?
57% of students finish at Pittsburg State University, against 53% at Washburn 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.