Head-to-head comparison
Wright State University-Main Campus vs Lake Erie College: 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 Painesville, OH
Lake Erie College
- Net price / year
- $20,961
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,417
- Payback
- 40.8 yrs
Lake Erie College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,844 in 40.8 years versus 54.1 years at Wright State University-Main Campus, on median earnings of $50,417 vs $49,500 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wright State University-Main Campus | Lake Erie College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,415 | $20,961 |
| Total net cost | $61,660 | $83,844 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,500 | $50,417 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 54.1 yrs | 40.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,860 | -$42,704 |
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 Lake Erie College?
Wright State University-Main Campus, at $15,415 a year after aid versus $20,961 — a gap of $5,546 a year, or $22,184 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 Lake Erie College graduates earn more?
Lake Erie College graduates report a median $50,417 ten years after entry, $917 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 Lake Erie College?
Wright State University-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lake Erie College, a difference of $3,250. 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?
42% of students finish at Wright State University-Main Campus, against 38% at Lake Erie 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.