Ivy Tech Community College vs Butler University: which has better ROI?
Butler University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,164 in 5 years versus not at all at Ivy Tech Community College, on median earnings of $77,235 vs $37,186 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ivy Tech Community College | Butler University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,258 | $36,041 |
| Total net cost | $29,032 | $144,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,186 | $77,235 |
| Median debt | $10,727 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$252,512 | $433,336 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ivy Tech Community College or Butler University?
Ivy Tech Community College, at $7,258 a year after aid versus $36,041 — a gap of $28,783 a year, or $115,132 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ivy Tech Community College or Butler University graduates earn more?
Butler University graduates report a median $77,235 ten years after entry, $40,049 more than the $37,186 at Ivy Tech Community 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, Ivy Tech Community College or Butler University?
Ivy Tech Community College: its completers carry a median $10,727 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Butler University, a difference of $15,273. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Butler University, against 41% at Ivy Tech Community 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.