Massachusetts Bay Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Massachusetts Bay Community College charges a net price of $7,169/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $14,338. Graduates earn a median $52,654 ten years after entry, $4,294/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.3 years — a 20-year net return of $71,542, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Massachusetts Bay Community College's 3.3-year payback ranks #207 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 84% of them, and #16 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,169/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $14,338 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,654 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,294/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $6,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $71,542 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.