Head-to-head comparison
William Penn University vs Northwestern College: which has better ROI?
Option A Oskaloosa, IA
William Penn University
- Net price / year
- $22,601
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,936
- Payback
- 157 yrs
Option B Orange City, IA
Northwestern College
- Net price / year
- $25,907
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,802
- Payback
- 71.9 yrs
Northwestern College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $103,628 in 71.9 years versus 157 years at William Penn University, on median earnings of $49,802 vs $48,936 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Penn University | Northwestern College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,601 | $25,907 |
| Total net cost | $90,404 | $103,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,936 | $49,802 |
| Median debt | $22,415 | $23,249 |
| Payback | 157 yrs | 71.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$78,884 | -$74,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William Penn University or Northwestern College?
William Penn University, at $22,601 a year after aid versus $25,907 — a gap of $3,306 a year, or $13,224 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 William Penn University or Northwestern College graduates earn more?
Northwestern College graduates report a median $49,802 ten years after entry, $866 more than the $48,936 at William Penn 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, William Penn University or Northwestern College?
William Penn University: its completers carry a median $22,415 in federal loans versus $23,249 at Northwestern College, a difference of $834. 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?
66% of students finish at Northwestern College, against 33% at William Penn 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.