Head-to-head comparison
Boston University vs Middlesex Community 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 Bedford, MA
Middlesex Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,624
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,651
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Middlesex Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $5,248 in 2.3 years versus 2.8 years at Boston University, on median earnings of $50,651 vs $83,238 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boston University | Middlesex Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,402 | $2,624 |
| Total net cost | $97,608 | $5,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,238 | $50,651 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $7,291 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $599,952 | $40,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Boston University or Middlesex Community College?
Middlesex Community College, at $2,624 a year after aid versus $24,402 — a gap of $21,778 a year, or $92,360 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 Middlesex Community College graduates earn more?
Boston University graduates report a median $83,238 ten years after entry, $32,587 more than the $50,651 at Middlesex Community 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 Middlesex Community College?
Middlesex Community College: its completers carry a median $7,291 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Boston University, a difference of $15,959. 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 23% at Middlesex Community College. 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.