Head-to-Head Analysis
This analysis was generated using Azimuth's proprietary framework. Our data model transforms federal education data into actionable insights. Learn about founder Daniel Rogers, explore our research methodology, or see how we think about this data.
Updated January 2026 • Cleveland, OH & San Francisco, CA
When students choose between University of San Francisco and Case Western Reserve University, they're comparing two private universities that produce similar earnings but serve different student populations. Both charge around $39,000/year and deliver median earnings near $89,000.
Yet USF achieves these outcomes while serving significantly more first-generation and low-income students, demonstrating stronger institutional effectiveness in our statistical model.
Median Student Debt at Graduation
$24,000
federal loans
$23,000
federal loans
Median Parent PLUS Loans
$31,458
borrowed by parents
$44,413
borrowed by parents
USF is predominantly business-focused, with 30% of graduates earning degrees in business fields. Case Western has a more engineering-centered approach: 27% Engineering, 11% Business, 10% Social Sciences.
USF's largest programs include Nursing (260 graduates), Business Administration (137), and Psychology (134). Case Western concentrates on Computer Science (129 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (91), and Biomedical Engineering (82).
These different program mixes lead to distinct career trajectories.
For students prioritizing institutional effectiveness and outcomes that exceed expectations, USF delivers stronger performance while serving a more challenging student population. Case Western offers higher graduation rates and slightly lower total family debt burden, making it the better choice for students who value completion security and can benefit from its engineering focus.
The data suggests both provide comparable value, but USF demonstrates superior ability to help students achieve earnings that surpass demographic predictions. The right choice depends on your program interests, risk tolerance, and whether you value overperformance or completion certainty more highly.
Key Takeaway
The numbers are close, but the best school depends on your goals, values, and career aspirations.
This comparison was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
This comparison uses Azimuth's proprietary ROI model based on U.S. Dept. of Education data. View Full Methodology.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid.
