Wilkes University vs Elizabethtown College: which has better ROI?
Wilkes University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $110,972 in 7.4 years versus 7.6 years at Elizabethtown College, on median earnings of $63,454 vs $62,399 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wilkes University | Elizabethtown College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,743 | $26,598 |
| Total net cost | $110,972 | $106,392 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,454 | $62,399 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.4 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $190,908 | $174,388 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wilkes University or Elizabethtown College?
Elizabethtown College, at $26,598 a year after aid versus $27,743 — a gap of $1,145 a year, or $4,580 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wilkes University or Elizabethtown College graduates earn more?
Wilkes University graduates report a median $63,454 ten years after entry, $1,055 more than the $62,399 at Elizabethtown 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, Wilkes University or Elizabethtown College?
Wilkes University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Elizabethtown College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Elizabethtown College, against 63% at Wilkes 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.