Manchester University vs Earlham College: which has better ROI?
Manchester University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,220 in 23.9 years versus 40.6 years at Earlham College, on median earnings of $51,504 vs $50,797 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Manchester University | Earlham College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,805 | $24,714 |
| Total net cost | $75,220 | $98,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,504 | $50,797 |
| Median debt | $26,854 | $23,488 |
| Payback | 23.9 yrs | 40.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$12,340 | -$50,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Manchester University or Earlham College?
Manchester University, at $18,805 a year after aid versus $24,714 — a gap of $5,909 a year, or $23,636 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Manchester University or Earlham College graduates earn more?
Manchester University graduates report a median $51,504 ten years after entry, $707 more than the $50,797 at Earlham 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, Manchester University or Earlham College?
Earlham College: its completers carry a median $23,488 in federal loans versus $26,854 at Manchester University, a difference of $3,366. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Earlham College, against 46% at Manchester 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.