Head-to-head comparison
Wright State University-Main Campus vs Franciscan University of Steubenville: which has better ROI?
Option A Dayton, OH
Wright State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,415
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,500
- Payback
- 54.1 yrs
Option B Steubenville, OH
Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Net price / year
- $23,589
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,030
- Payback
- 56.5 yrs
Wright State University-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,660 in 54.1 years versus 56.5 years at Franciscan University of Steubenville, on median earnings of $49,500 vs $50,030 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wright State University-Main Campus | Franciscan University of Steubenville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,415 | $23,589 |
| Total net cost | $61,660 | $94,356 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,500 | $50,030 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $23,384 |
| Payback | 54.1 yrs | 56.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,860 | -$60,956 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wright State University-Main Campus or Franciscan University of Steubenville?
Wright State University-Main Campus, at $15,415 a year after aid versus $23,589 — a gap of $8,174 a year, or $32,696 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-Main Campus or Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates earn more?
Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates report a median $50,030 ten years after entry, $530 more than the $49,500 at Wright State University-Main 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-Main Campus or Franciscan University of Steubenville?
Wright State University-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $23,384 at Franciscan University of Steubenville, a difference of $634. 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?
75% of students finish at Franciscan University of Steubenville, against 42% at Wright State University-Main 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.