Head-to-head comparison
Wright State University-Lake Campus vs Bluffton University: which has better ROI?
Option A Celina, OH
Wright State University-Lake Campus
- Net price / year
- $11,081
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,500
- Payback
- 38.9 yrs
Option B Bluffton, OH
Bluffton University
- Net price / year
- $19,943
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,547
- Payback
- 67.2 yrs
Wright State University-Lake Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $44,324 in 38.9 years versus 67.2 years at Bluffton University, on median earnings of $49,500 vs $49,547 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wright State University-Lake Campus | Bluffton University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,081 | $19,943 |
| Total net cost | $44,324 | $79,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,500 | $49,547 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 38.9 yrs | 67.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$21,524 | -$56,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wright State University-Lake Campus or Bluffton University?
Wright State University-Lake Campus, at $11,081 a year after aid versus $19,943 — a gap of $8,862 a year, or $35,448 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 Wright State University-Lake Campus or Bluffton University graduates earn more?
Bluffton University graduates report a median $49,547 ten years after entry, $47 more than the $49,500 at Wright State University-Lake Campus. 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, Wright State University-Lake Campus or Bluffton University?
Wright State University-Lake Campus: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bluffton University, a difference of $4,250. 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?
53% of students finish at Bluffton University, against 41% at Wright State University-Lake Campus. 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.