Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Maharishi International University vs Emmaus Bible College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Fairfield IA · vs · Private nonprofit, Dubuque IA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emmaus Bible College comes closer — median earnings $42,631 against a $52,744 total, vs $27,981 at Maharishi International University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureMaharishi International UniversityEmmaus Bible College
Net price / yr$14,956$13,186
Total net cost$59,824$52,744
Median earnings, 10 yrs$27,981$42,631
Median debt$24,781$15,750
Payback
20-year net return-$467,404-$167,324

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College?

Emmaus Bible College, at $13,186 a year after aid versus $14,956 — a gap of $1,770 a year, or $7,080 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?

Emmaus Bible College graduates report a median $42,631 ten years after entry, $14,650 more than the $27,981 at Maharishi International 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, Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College?

Emmaus Bible College: its completers carry a median $15,750 in federal loans versus $24,781 at Maharishi International University, a difference of $9,031. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

83% of students finish at Emmaus Bible College, against 50% at Maharishi International 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.

Maharishi International University vs Emmaus Bible College: frequently asked questions

Is Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College a better value?
Emmaus Bible College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College?
Emmaus Bible College: $13,186/yr net price after aid versus $14,956/yr at Maharishi International University — a difference of $1,770 a year, or about $7,080 over four years.
Do Maharishi International University or Emmaus Bible College graduates earn more?
Emmaus Bible College graduates earn a median $42,631 ten years after entry, versus $27,981 at Maharishi International University — a $14,650 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.