Augustana College vs North Central College: which has better ROI?
Augustana College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,944 in 6.2 years versus 7.2 years at North Central College, on median earnings of $62,971 vs $60,123 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Augustana College | North Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,736 | $21,044 |
| Total net cost | $90,944 | $84,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,971 | $60,123 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $201,276 | $151,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Augustana College or North Central College?
North Central College, at $21,044 a year after aid versus $22,736 — a gap of $1,692 a year, or $6,768 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Augustana College or North Central College graduates earn more?
Augustana College graduates report a median $62,971 ten years after entry, $2,848 more than the $60,123 at North Central 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, Augustana College or North Central College?
North Central College: its completers carry a median $24,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Augustana College, a difference of $2,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Augustana College, against 64% at North Central 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.