California Intercontinental University vs Dakota Wesleyan University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
California Intercontinental University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Dakota Wesleyan University at 100.0%. Average median debt: California Intercontinental University at $19,816 vs Dakota Wesleyan University at $30,365. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $74,000 vs $50,800.
| Metric | California Intercontinental University | Dakota Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Sd | Sd |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $19,816* | $30,365 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $74,000* | $50,800 |
| Majors Tracked | 3 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (98/100)* | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (76/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $17,129* | $32,908 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000* | $62,000 |
California Intercontinental University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Dakota Wesleyan University at 100.0%. Average median debt: California Intercontinental University at $19,816 vs Dakota Wesleyan University at $30,365. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $74,000 vs $50,800.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Average median debt: California Intercontinental University at $19,816, the other option at $30,365. That's a wide enough spread that the debt-service burden in the first ten years after graduation differs by hundreds of dollars per month, which matters for housing affordability, savings rate, and the ability to pursue lower-paying entry-level work in a chosen field.
On earnings, the spread is significant — graduates of California Intercontinental University report median first-year earnings of $74,000 versus $50,800 at the alternative. Earnings differences at first-year out are heavily driven by program mix (engineering vs. liberal arts) and employer-pipeline density (school's geographic and industry network), not by institutional prestige alone — check which majors drive the headline numbers.
Both schools sit in Sd, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.