Franciscan University of Steubenville vs Bluffton University: which has better ROI?
Franciscan University of Steubenville has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $94,356 in 56.5 years versus 67.2 years at Bluffton University, on median earnings of $50,030 vs $49,547 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Franciscan University of Steubenville | Bluffton University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,589 | $19,943 |
| Total net cost | $94,356 | $79,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,030 | $49,547 |
| Median debt | $23,384 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 56.5 yrs | 67.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$60,956 | -$56,032 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Franciscan University of Steubenville or Bluffton University?
Bluffton University, at $19,943 a year after aid versus $23,589 — a gap of $3,646 a year, or $14,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Franciscan University of Steubenville or Bluffton University graduates earn more?
Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates report a median $50,030 ten years after entry, $483 more than the $49,547 at Bluffton 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, Franciscan University of Steubenville or Bluffton University?
Franciscan University of Steubenville: its completers carry a median $23,384 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bluffton University, a difference of $3,616. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Franciscan University of Steubenville, against 53% at Bluffton 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.