Head-to-head comparison
Bentley University vs Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: which has better ROI?
Option A Waltham, MA
Bentley University
- Net price / year
- $37,930
- Earnings, 10 years
- $120,959
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
Option B Needham, MA
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
- Net price / year
- $25,171
- Earnings, 10 years
- $129,455
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,684 in 1.2 years versus 2.1 years at Bentley University, on median earnings of $129,455 vs $120,959 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bentley University | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,930 | $25,171 |
| Total net cost | $151,720 | $100,684 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $120,959 | $129,455 |
| Median debt | $25,023 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,300,260 | $1,521,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bentley University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, at $25,171 a year after aid versus $37,930 — a gap of $12,759 a year, or $51,036 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 Bentley University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates earn more?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates report a median $129,455 ten years after entry, $8,496 more than the $120,959 at Bentley 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, Bentley University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $25,023 at Bentley University, a difference of $5,523. 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?
96% of students finish at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, against 87% at Bentley 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.