Head-to-head comparison
Barnard College vs Hamilton College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
Barnard College
- Net price / year
- $28,800
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,516
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Clinton, NY
Hamilton College
- Net price / year
- $28,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,411
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Barnard College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,200 in 3.6 years versus 3.9 years at Hamilton College, on median earnings of $80,516 vs $78,411 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barnard College | Hamilton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,800 | $28,985 |
| Total net cost | $115,200 | $115,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,516 | $78,411 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $17,000 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $527,920 | $485,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barnard College or Hamilton College?
Barnard College, at $28,800 a year after aid versus $28,985 — a gap of $185 a year, or $740 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 Barnard College or Hamilton College graduates earn more?
Barnard College graduates report a median $80,516 ten years after entry, $2,105 more than the $78,411 at Hamilton 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, Barnard College or Hamilton College?
Hamilton College: its completers carry a median $17,000 in federal loans versus $18,000 at Barnard College, a difference of $1,000. 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?
93% of students finish at Barnard College, against 91% at Hamilton 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.