Head-to-head comparison
Champlain College vs Saint Michael's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Burlington, VT
Champlain College
- Net price / year
- $35,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,386
- Payback
- 14.3 yrs
Option B Colchester, VT
Saint Michael's College
- Net price / year
- $25,239
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,317
- Payback
- 7.8 yrs
Saint Michael's College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,956 in 7.8 years versus 14.3 years at Champlain College, on median earnings of $61,317 vs $58,386 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Champlain College | Saint Michael's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,860 | $25,239 |
| Total net cost | $143,440 | $100,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,386 | $61,317 |
| Median debt | $26,814 | $26,922 |
| Payback | 14.3 yrs | 7.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $57,080 | $158,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Champlain College or Saint Michael's College?
Saint Michael's College, at $25,239 a year after aid versus $35,860 — a gap of $10,621 a year, or $42,484 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 Champlain College or Saint Michael's College graduates earn more?
Saint Michael's College graduates report a median $61,317 ten years after entry, $2,931 more than the $58,386 at Champlain 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, Champlain College or Saint Michael's College?
Champlain College: its completers carry a median $26,814 in federal loans versus $26,922 at Saint Michael's College, a difference of $108. 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?
73% of students finish at Saint Michael's College, against 65% at Champlain 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.