Head-to-head comparison
Whitworth University vs Perry Technical Institute: 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 Yakima, WA
Perry Technical Institute
- Net price / year
- $20,047
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,764
- Payback
- 8.5 yrs
Perry Technical Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,188 in 8.5 years versus 10.4 years at Whitworth University, on median earnings of $57,764 vs $58,561 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whitworth University | Perry Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,534 | $20,047 |
| Total net cost | $106,136 | $80,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,561 | $57,764 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $14,139 |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $97,884 | $107,892 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Whitworth University or Perry Technical Institute?
Perry Technical Institute, at $20,047 a year after aid versus $26,534 — a gap of $6,487 a year, or $25,948 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 Perry Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Whitworth University graduates report a median $58,561 ten years after entry, $797 more than the $57,764 at Perry Technical Institute. 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 Perry Technical Institute?
Perry Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $14,139 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Whitworth University, a difference of $10,861. 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?
79% of students finish at Perry Technical Institute, against 71% at Whitworth 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.