Head-to-head comparison
Wittenberg University vs Marietta College: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, OH
Wittenberg University
- Net price / year
- $18,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,947
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
Option B Marietta, OH
Marietta College
- Net price / year
- $21,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,180
- Payback
- 9.6 yrs
Marietta College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $84,332 in 9.6 years versus 11.3 years at Wittenberg University, on median earnings of $57,180 vs $54,947 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wittenberg University | Marietta College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,649 | $21,083 |
| Total net cost | $74,596 | $84,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,947 | $57,180 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.3 yrs | 9.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $57,144 | $92,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wittenberg University or Marietta College?
Wittenberg University, at $18,649 a year after aid versus $21,083 — a gap of $2,434 a year, or $9,736 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 Wittenberg University or Marietta College graduates earn more?
Marietta College graduates report a median $57,180 ten years after entry, $2,233 more than the $54,947 at Wittenberg 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, Wittenberg University or Marietta College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at Marietta College, against 53% at Wittenberg 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.