Head-to-head comparison
Barnard College vs Molloy University: 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 Rockville Centre, NY
Molloy University
- Net price / year
- $24,347
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,789
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Molloy University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,388 in 3.3 years versus 3.6 years at Barnard College, on median earnings of $77,789 vs $80,516 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barnard College | Molloy University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,800 | $24,347 |
| Total net cost | $115,200 | $97,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,516 | $77,789 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $527,920 | $491,192 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barnard College or Molloy University?
Molloy University, at $24,347 a year after aid versus $28,800 — a gap of $4,453 a year, or $17,812 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 Molloy University graduates earn more?
Barnard College graduates report a median $80,516 ten years after entry, $2,727 more than the $77,789 at Molloy University. 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 Molloy University?
Barnard College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Molloy University, a difference of $9,000. 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 70% at Molloy University. 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.