American Public University System vs Davis & Elkins College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Public University System comes closer — median earnings $44,409 against a $38,388 total, vs $43,411 at Davis & Elkins College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Public University System | Davis & Elkins College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,597 | $18,273 |
| Total net cost | $38,388 | $73,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,409 | $43,411 |
| Median debt | $21,743 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$117,408 | -$172,072 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Public University System or Davis & Elkins College?
American Public University System, at $9,597 a year after aid versus $18,273 — a gap of $8,676 a year, or $34,704 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American Public University System or Davis & Elkins College graduates earn more?
American Public University System graduates report a median $44,409 ten years after entry, $998 more than the $43,411 at Davis & Elkins College. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, American Public University System or Davis & Elkins College?
American Public University System: its completers carry a median $21,743 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Davis & Elkins College, a difference of $5,257. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Public University System, against 39% at Davis & Elkins 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.