Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach vs Bethune-Cookman University: which has better ROI?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $165,088 in 4.6 years versus not at all at Bethune-Cookman University, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $38,518 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Bethune-Cookman University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,272 | $12,030 |
| Total net cost | $165,088 | $48,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,131 | $38,518 |
| Median debt | $23,666 | $31,000 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $550,332 | -$244,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Bethune-Cookman University?
Bethune-Cookman University, at $12,030 a year after aid versus $41,272 — a gap of $29,242 a year, or $116,968 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Bethune-Cookman University graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $45,613 more than the $38,518 at Bethune-Cookman 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, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach or Bethune-Cookman University?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach: its completers carry a median $23,666 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Bethune-Cookman University, a difference of $7,334. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, against 31% at Bethune-Cookman 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.