Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide vs West Coast University-Miami: which has better ROI?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,900 in 2.1 years versus 2.4 years at West Coast University-Miami, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $102,672 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | West Coast University-Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,725 | $32,539 |
| Total net cost | $74,900 | $130,156 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,131 | $102,672 |
| Median debt | $23,666 | $32,946 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $640,520 | $956,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide or West Coast University-Miami?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, at $18,725 a year after aid versus $32,539 — a gap of $13,814 a year, or $55,256 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-Worldwide or West Coast University-Miami graduates earn more?
West Coast University-Miami graduates report a median $102,672 ten years after entry, $18,541 more than the $84,131 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide. 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-Worldwide or West Coast University-Miami?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide: its completers carry a median $23,666 in federal loans versus $32,946 at West Coast University-Miami, a difference of $9,280. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at West Coast University-Miami, against 21% at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide. 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.