Head-to-head comparison
Wilmington College vs Heidelberg University: which has better ROI?
Option A Wilmington, OH
Wilmington College
- Net price / year
- $24,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,491
- Payback
- 737.5 yrs
Option B Tiffin, OH
Heidelberg University
- Net price / year
- $20,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,466
- Payback
- 775.7 yrs
Wilmington College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $96,612 in 737.5 years versus 775.7 years at Heidelberg University, on median earnings of $48,491 vs $48,466 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wilmington College | Heidelberg University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,153 | $20,556 |
| Total net cost | $96,612 | $82,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,491 | $48,466 |
| Median debt | $24,208 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 737.5 yrs | 775.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$93,992 | -$80,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wilmington College or Heidelberg University?
Heidelberg University, at $20,556 a year after aid versus $24,153 — a gap of $3,597 a year, or $14,388 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 Wilmington College or Heidelberg University graduates earn more?
Wilmington College graduates report a median $48,491 ten years after entry, $25 more than the $48,466 at Heidelberg 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, Wilmington College or Heidelberg University?
Wilmington College: its completers carry a median $24,208 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Heidelberg University, a difference of $2,792. 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?
52% of students finish at Heidelberg University, against 47% at Wilmington College. 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.