Head-to-head comparison
Wayne County Community College District vs University of Detroit Mercy: which has better ROI?
Option A Detroit, MI
Wayne County Community College District
- Net price / year
- $7,656
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,079
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Detroit, MI
University of Detroit Mercy
- Net price / year
- $15,232
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,030
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
University of Detroit Mercy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $60,928 in 2.7 years versus not at all at Wayne County Community College District, on median earnings of $71,030 vs $29,079 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wayne County Community College District | University of Detroit Mercy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,656 | $15,232 |
| Total net cost | $15,312 | $60,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,079 | $71,030 |
| Median debt | $12,062 | $23,250 |
| Payback | — | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$400,932 | $392,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wayne County Community College District or University of Detroit Mercy?
Wayne County Community College District, at $7,656 a year after aid versus $15,232 — a gap of $7,576 a year, or $45,616 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 Wayne County Community College District or University of Detroit Mercy graduates earn more?
University of Detroit Mercy graduates report a median $71,030 ten years after entry, $41,951 more than the $29,079 at Wayne County Community College District. 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, Wayne County Community College District or University of Detroit Mercy?
Wayne County Community College District: its completers carry a median $12,062 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of Detroit Mercy, a difference of $11,188. 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?
67% of students finish at University of Detroit Mercy, against 22% at Wayne County Community College District. 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.