Head-to-head comparison
Barnard College vs Maria College of Albany: 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 Albany, NY
Maria College of Albany
- Net price / year
- $13,082
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,458
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Barnard College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,200 in 3.6 years versus 3.7 years at Maria College of Albany, on median earnings of $80,516 vs $55,458 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barnard College | Maria College of Albany |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,800 | $13,082 |
| Total net cost | $115,200 | $26,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,516 | $55,458 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $20,528 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $527,920 | $115,796 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barnard College or Maria College of Albany?
Maria College of Albany, at $13,082 a year after aid versus $28,800 — a gap of $15,718 a year, or $89,036 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 Maria College of Albany graduates earn more?
Barnard College graduates report a median $80,516 ten years after entry, $25,058 more than the $55,458 at Maria College of Albany. 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 Maria College of Albany?
Barnard College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $20,528 at Maria College of Albany, a difference of $2,528. 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 30% at Maria College of Albany. 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.