Head-to-head comparison
Washington University in St Louis vs Chamberlain University-Missouri: which has better ROI?
Option A St. Louis, MO
Washington University in St Louis
- Net price / year
- $21,786
- Earnings, 10 years
- $86,182
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Option B St. Louis, MO
Chamberlain University-Missouri
- Net price / year
- $30,716
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,405
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Washington University in St Louis has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,144 in 2.3 years versus 2.8 years at Chamberlain University-Missouri, on median earnings of $86,182 vs $92,405 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Washington University in St Louis | Chamberlain University-Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,786 | $30,716 |
| Total net cost | $87,144 | $122,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,182 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $669,296 | $758,036 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Washington University in St Louis or Chamberlain University-Missouri?
Washington University in St Louis, at $21,786 a year after aid versus $30,716 — a gap of $8,930 a year, or $35,720 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 Washington University in St Louis or Chamberlain University-Missouri graduates earn more?
Chamberlain University-Missouri graduates report a median $92,405 ten years after entry, $6,223 more than the $86,182 at Washington University in St Louis. 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, Washington University in St Louis or Chamberlain University-Missouri?
Washington University in St Louis: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $20,919 at Chamberlain University-Missouri, a difference of $3,419. 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?
100% of students finish at Chamberlain University-Missouri, against 94% at Washington University in St Louis. 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.