Ivy Tech Community College vs Purdue University Global: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ivy Tech Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,186 against a $29,032 total, vs $36,596 at Purdue University Global. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ivy Tech Community College | Purdue University Global |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,258 | $7,770 |
| Total net cost | $29,032 | $31,080 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,186 | $36,596 |
| Median debt | $10,727 | $26,078 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$252,512 | -$266,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ivy Tech Community College or Purdue University Global?
Ivy Tech Community College, at $7,258 a year after aid versus $7,770 — a gap of $512 a year, or $2,048 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 Purdue University Global graduates earn more?
Ivy Tech Community College graduates report a median $37,186 ten years after entry, $590 more than the $36,596 at Purdue University Global. 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 Purdue University Global?
Ivy Tech Community College: its completers carry a median $10,727 in federal loans versus $26,078 at Purdue University Global, a difference of $15,351. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Purdue University Global, 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.