Head-to-head comparison
Whitworth University vs Northwest University: which has better ROI?
Option A Spokane, WA
Whitworth University
- Net price / year
- $26,534
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,561
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Option B Kirkland, WA
Northwest University
- Net price / year
- $22,288
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,914
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Whitworth University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,136 in 10.4 years versus 13.6 years at Northwest University, on median earnings of $58,561 vs $54,914 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whitworth University | Northwest University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,534 | $22,288 |
| Total net cost | $106,136 | $89,152 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,561 | $54,914 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $20,891 |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $97,884 | $41,928 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Whitworth University or Northwest University?
Northwest University, at $22,288 a year after aid versus $26,534 — a gap of $4,246 a year, or $16,984 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 Whitworth University or Northwest University graduates earn more?
Whitworth University graduates report a median $58,561 ten years after entry, $3,647 more than the $54,914 at Northwest 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, Whitworth University or Northwest University?
Northwest University: its completers carry a median $20,891 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Whitworth University, a difference of $4,109. 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?
71% of students finish at Whitworth University, against 71% at Northwest 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.