Head-to-head comparison
William Woods University vs Cottey College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fulton, MO
William Woods University
- Net price / year
- $26,569
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,401
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Nevada, MO
Cottey College
- Net price / year
- $13,805
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,422
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but William Woods University comes closer — median earnings $42,401 against a $106,276 total, vs $35,422 at Cottey College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Woods University | Cottey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,569 | $13,805 |
| Total net cost | $106,276 | $55,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,401 | $35,422 |
| Median debt | $21,983 | $19,043 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$225,456 | -$313,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William Woods University or Cottey College?
Cottey College, at $13,805 a year after aid versus $26,569 — a gap of $12,764 a year, or $51,056 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 Woods University or Cottey College graduates earn more?
William Woods University graduates report a median $42,401 ten years after entry, $6,979 more than the $35,422 at Cottey College. 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 Woods University or Cottey College?
Cottey College: its completers carry a median $19,043 in federal loans versus $21,983 at William Woods University, a difference of $2,940. 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?
56% of students finish at Cottey College, against 47% at William Woods 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.