Davenport University vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Davenport University comes closer — median earnings $45,099 against a $70,828 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Davenport University | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,707 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $70,828 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,099 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$136,048 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Davenport University or College for Creative Studies?
Davenport University, at $17,707 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $16,910 a year, or $67,640 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Davenport University or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
Davenport University graduates report a median $45,099 ten years after entry, $239 more than the $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. 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, Davenport University or College for Creative Studies?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 57% at Davenport 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.