Waldorf University vs Northwestern College: which has better ROI?
Waldorf University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,772 in 28.1 years versus 71.9 years at Northwestern College, on median earnings of $51,165 vs $49,802 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Waldorf University | Northwestern College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,693 | $25,907 |
| Total net cost | $78,772 | $103,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,165 | $49,802 |
| Median debt | $18,752 | $23,249 |
| Payback | 28.1 yrs | 71.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$22,672 | -$74,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Waldorf University or Northwestern College?
Waldorf University, at $19,693 a year after aid versus $25,907 — a gap of $6,214 a year, or $24,856 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Waldorf University or Northwestern College graduates earn more?
Waldorf University graduates report a median $51,165 ten years after entry, $1,363 more than the $49,802 at Northwestern 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, Waldorf University or Northwestern College?
Waldorf University: its completers carry a median $18,752 in federal loans versus $23,249 at Northwestern College, a difference of $4,497. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Northwestern College, against 21% at Waldorf 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.