Head-to-head comparison
Bard College vs Schenectady County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Bard College
- Net price / year
- $34,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,543
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Schenectady, NY
Schenectady County Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,947
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,902
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Schenectady County Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,902 against a $17,894 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Schenectady County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $8,947 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $17,894 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $40,902 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $11,049 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$167,054 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Schenectady County Community College?
Schenectady County Community College, at $8,947 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $25,702 a year, or $120,702 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 Bard College or Schenectady County Community College graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $5,641 more than the $40,902 at Schenectady County Community 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, Bard College or Schenectady County Community College?
Schenectady County Community College: its completers carry a median $11,049 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $13,205. 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?
68% of students finish at Bard College, against 32% at Schenectady County Community 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.