Head-to-head comparison
Boston University vs Amherst College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Boston University
- Net price / year
- $24,402
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,238
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Option B Amherst, MA
Amherst College
- Net price / year
- $23,367
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,644
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Boston University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,608 in 2.8 years versus 3.2 years at Amherst College, on median earnings of $83,238 vs $77,644 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boston University | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,402 | $23,367 |
| Total net cost | $97,608 | $93,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,238 | $77,644 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $13,740 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $599,952 | $492,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Boston University or Amherst College?
Amherst College, at $23,367 a year after aid versus $24,402 — a gap of $1,035 a year, or $4,140 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 Boston University or Amherst College graduates earn more?
Boston University graduates report a median $83,238 ten years after entry, $5,594 more than the $77,644 at Amherst 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, Boston University or Amherst College?
Amherst College: its completers carry a median $13,740 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Boston University, a difference of $9,510. 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?
94% of students finish at Amherst College, against 89% at Boston 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.