DePauw University vs Wabash College: which has better ROI?
DePauw University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,056 in 4 years versus 4.5 years at Wabash College, on median earnings of $70,527 vs $69,952 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | DePauw University | Wabash College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,264 | $24,336 |
| Total net cost | $89,056 | $97,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,527 | $69,952 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $354,284 | $334,496 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, DePauw University or Wabash College?
DePauw University, at $22,264 a year after aid versus $24,336 — a gap of $2,072 a year, or $8,288 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do DePauw University or Wabash College graduates earn more?
DePauw University graduates report a median $70,527 ten years after entry, $575 more than the $69,952 at Wabash 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, DePauw University or Wabash 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?
77% of students finish at Wabash College, 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.