Head-to-head comparison
Anna Maria College vs Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: 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 North Adams, MA
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Net price / year
- $16,068
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,102
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts comes closer — median earnings $48,102 against a $64,272 total, vs $46,651 at Anna Maria College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anna Maria College | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,333 | $16,068 |
| Total net cost | $113,332 | $64,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,651 | $48,102 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,512 | -$69,432 |
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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, at $16,068 a year after aid versus $28,333 — a gap of $12,265 a year, or $49,060 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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates report a median $48,102 ten years after entry, $1,451 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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: its completers carry a median $23,750 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Anna Maria College, a difference of $1,250. 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?
56% of students finish at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 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.