Head-to-head comparison
Wayne State University vs Calvin University: which has better ROI?
Option A Detroit, MI
Wayne State University
- Net price / year
- $12,766
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,493
- Payback
- 9.9 yrs
Option B Grand Rapids, MI
Calvin University
- Net price / year
- $22,992
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,375
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Calvin University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,968 in 9.2 years versus 9.9 years at Wayne State University, on median earnings of $58,375 vs $53,493 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wayne State University | Calvin University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,766 | $22,992 |
| Total net cost | $51,064 | $91,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,493 | $58,375 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 9.9 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $51,596 | $108,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wayne State University or Calvin University?
Wayne State University, at $12,766 a year after aid versus $22,992 — a gap of $10,226 a year, or $40,904 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 State University or Calvin University graduates earn more?
Calvin University graduates report a median $58,375 ten years after entry, $4,882 more than the $53,493 at Wayne State 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, Wayne State University or Calvin University?
Wayne State University: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Calvin University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
74% of students finish at Calvin University, against 58% at Wayne State 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.