Davis & Elkins College vs Bethany College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethany College comes closer — median earnings $44,512 against a $74,420 total, vs $43,411 at Davis & Elkins College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Davis & Elkins College | Bethany College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,273 | $18,605 |
| Total net cost | $73,092 | $74,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,411 | $44,512 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$172,072 | -$151,380 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Davis & Elkins College or Bethany College?
Davis & Elkins College, at $18,273 a year after aid versus $18,605 — a gap of $332 a year, or $1,328 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Davis & Elkins College or Bethany College graduates earn more?
Bethany College graduates report a median $44,512 ten years after entry, $1,101 more than the $43,411 at Davis & Elkins 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, Davis & Elkins College or Bethany College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, 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?
47% of students finish at Bethany College, against 39% at Davis & Elkins 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.