Franciscan University of Steubenville vs Defiance College: 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 106.3 years at Defiance College, on median earnings of $50,030 vs $49,351 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Franciscan University of Steubenville | Defiance College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,589 | $26,337 |
| Total net cost | $94,356 | $105,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,030 | $49,351 |
| Median debt | $23,384 | $26,813 |
| Payback | 56.5 yrs | 106.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$60,956 | -$85,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Franciscan University of Steubenville or Defiance College?
Franciscan University of Steubenville, at $23,589 a year after aid versus $26,337 — a gap of $2,748 a year, or $10,992 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 Defiance College graduates earn more?
Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates report a median $50,030 ten years after entry, $679 more than the $49,351 at Defiance 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, Franciscan University of Steubenville or Defiance College?
Franciscan University of Steubenville: its completers carry a median $23,384 in federal loans versus $26,813 at Defiance College, a difference of $3,429. 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 31% at Defiance 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.