Dallas Baptist University vs Southwestern University: which has better ROI?
Dallas Baptist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,064 in 13.5 years versus 13.7 years at Southwestern University, on median earnings of $56,807 vs $56,878 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dallas Baptist University | Southwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,516 | $29,224 |
| Total net cost | $114,064 | $116,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,807 | $56,878 |
| Median debt | $21,591 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 13.5 yrs | 13.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $54,876 | $53,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dallas Baptist University or Southwestern University?
Dallas Baptist University, at $28,516 a year after aid versus $29,224 — a gap of $708 a year, or $2,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dallas Baptist University or Southwestern University graduates earn more?
Southwestern University graduates report a median $56,878 ten years after entry, $71 more than the $56,807 at Dallas Baptist 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, Dallas Baptist University or Southwestern University?
Dallas Baptist University: its completers carry a median $21,591 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Southwestern University, a difference of $3,409. 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 Southwestern University, against 57% at Dallas Baptist 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.