Head-to-head comparison
Anna Maria College vs Hampshire College: which has better ROI?
Option A Paxton, MA
Anna Maria College
- Net price / year
- $28,333
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,651
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Amherst, MA
Hampshire College
- Net price / year
- $24,034
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,938
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hampshire College comes closer — median earnings $46,938 against a $96,136 total, vs $46,651 at Anna Maria College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anna Maria College | Hampshire College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,333 | $24,034 |
| Total net cost | $113,332 | $96,136 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,651 | $46,938 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,893 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,512 | -$124,576 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anna Maria College or Hampshire College?
Hampshire College, at $24,034 a year after aid versus $28,333 — a gap of $4,299 a year, or $17,196 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Anna Maria College or Hampshire College graduates earn more?
Hampshire College graduates report a median $46,938 ten years after entry, $287 more than the $46,651 at Anna Maria 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Anna Maria College or Hampshire College?
Anna Maria College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,893 at Hampshire College, a difference of $1,893. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Hampshire College, against 46% at Anna Maria College. 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.