Head-to-head comparison
Wichita State University vs Benedictine College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wichita, KS
Wichita State University
- Net price / year
- $13,194
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,532
- Payback
- 16.6 yrs
Option B Atchison, KS
Benedictine College
- Net price / year
- $27,891
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,175
- Payback
- 23.2 yrs
Wichita State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $52,776 in 16.6 years versus 23.2 years at Benedictine College, on median earnings of $51,532 vs $53,175 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wichita State University | Benedictine College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,194 | $27,891 |
| Total net cost | $52,776 | $111,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,532 | $53,175 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $24,599 |
| Payback | 16.6 yrs | 23.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,664 | -$15,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wichita State University or Benedictine College?
Wichita State University, at $13,194 a year after aid versus $27,891 — a gap of $14,697 a year, or $58,788 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 Wichita State University or Benedictine College graduates earn more?
Benedictine College graduates report a median $53,175 ten years after entry, $1,643 more than the $51,532 at Wichita 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, Wichita State University or Benedictine College?
Wichita State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $24,599 at Benedictine College, a difference of $4,099. 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?
62% of students finish at Benedictine College, against 51% at Wichita 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.