Head-to-head comparison
Clark University vs Mount Holyoke College: which has better ROI?
Option A Worcester, MA
Clark University
- Net price / year
- $28,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,381
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Option B South Hadley, MA
Mount Holyoke College
- Net price / year
- $26,441
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,418
- Payback
- 10.5 yrs
Clark University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,856 in 8.2 years versus 10.5 years at Mount Holyoke College, on median earnings of $62,381 vs $58,418 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark University | Mount Holyoke College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,714 | $26,441 |
| Total net cost | $114,856 | $105,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,381 | $58,418 |
| Median debt | $26,759 | $22,902 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 10.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $165,564 | $95,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark University or Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College, at $26,441 a year after aid versus $28,714 — a gap of $2,273 a year, or $9,092 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 Clark University or Mount Holyoke College graduates earn more?
Clark University graduates report a median $62,381 ten years after entry, $3,963 more than the $58,418 at Mount Holyoke 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, Clark University or Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College: its completers carry a median $22,902 in federal loans versus $26,759 at Clark University, a difference of $3,857. 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?
84% of students finish at Mount Holyoke College, against 77% at Clark 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.