Augustana College vs Wheaton 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 years at Wheaton College, on median earnings of $62,971 vs $63,756 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Augustana College | Wheaton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,736 | $26,975 |
| Total net cost | $90,944 | $107,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,971 | $63,756 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $201,276 | $200,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Augustana College or Wheaton College?
Augustana College, at $22,736 a year after aid versus $26,975 — a gap of $4,239 a year, or $16,956 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 Wheaton College graduates earn more?
Wheaton College graduates report a median $63,756 ten years after entry, $785 more than the $62,971 at Augustana 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 Wheaton College?
Wheaton College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Augustana College, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Wheaton College, against 73% at Augustana 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.