Head-to-head comparison
Boston University vs Massachusetts Maritime Academy: 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 Buzzards Bay, MA
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Net price / year
- $21,582
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,392
- Payback
- 2.5 yrs
Massachusetts Maritime Academy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,328 in 2.5 years versus 2.8 years at Boston University, on median earnings of $82,392 vs $83,238 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boston University | Massachusetts Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,402 | $21,582 |
| Total net cost | $97,608 | $86,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,238 | $82,392 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $599,952 | $594,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Boston University or Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, at $21,582 a year after aid versus $24,402 — a gap of $2,820 a year, or $11,280 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 Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Boston University graduates report a median $83,238 ten years after entry, $846 more than the $82,392 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 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 Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Boston University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a difference of $1,750. 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?
89% of students finish at Boston University, against 74% at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 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.