Butler University vs DePauw University: which has better ROI?
DePauw University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,056 in 4 years versus 5 years at Butler University, on median earnings of $70,527 vs $77,235 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Butler University | DePauw University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,041 | $22,264 |
| Total net cost | $144,164 | $89,056 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,235 | $70,527 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $433,336 | $354,284 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Butler University or DePauw University?
DePauw University, at $22,264 a year after aid versus $36,041 — a gap of $13,777 a year, or $55,108 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Butler University or DePauw University graduates earn more?
Butler University graduates report a median $77,235 ten years after entry, $6,708 more than the $70,527 at DePauw University. 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, Butler University or DePauw University?
Butler University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at DePauw University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Butler University, against 75% at DePauw University. 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.