Wartburg College vs Cornell College: which has better ROI?
Wartburg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $131,632 in 16.8 years versus 18.5 years at Cornell College, on median earnings of $56,201 vs $53,460 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wartburg College | Cornell College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,908 | $23,634 |
| Total net cost | $131,632 | $94,536 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,201 | $53,460 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 18.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,188 | $7,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wartburg College or Cornell College?
Cornell College, at $23,634 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $9,274 a year, or $37,096 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wartburg College or Cornell College graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $2,741 more than the $53,460 at Cornell 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, Wartburg College or Cornell College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Wartburg College, against 62% at Cornell 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.