Whitman College vs Perry Technical Institute: which has better ROI?
Whitman College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $133,252 in 6.9 years versus 8.5 years at Perry Technical Institute, on median earnings of $67,589 vs $57,764 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whitman College | Perry Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,313 | $20,047 |
| Total net cost | $133,252 | $80,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,589 | $57,764 |
| Median debt | $18,437 | $14,139 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $251,328 | $107,892 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Whitman College or Perry Technical Institute?
Perry Technical Institute, at $20,047 a year after aid versus $33,313 — a gap of $13,266 a year, or $53,064 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Whitman College or Perry Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Whitman College graduates report a median $67,589 ten years after entry, $9,825 more than the $57,764 at Perry Technical Institute. 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, Whitman College or Perry Technical Institute?
Perry Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $14,139 in federal loans versus $18,437 at Whitman College, a difference of $4,298. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Whitman College, against 79% at Perry Technical Institute. 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.