Head-to-head comparison
Colby College vs University of New England: which has better ROI?
Option A Waterville, ME
Colby College
- Net price / year
- $17,180
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,490
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
Option B Biddeford, ME
University of New England
- Net price / year
- $38,107
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,921
- Payback
- 20.2 yrs
Colby College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,720 in 2.1 years versus 20.2 years at University of New England, on median earnings of $80,490 vs $55,921 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colby College | University of New England |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,180 | $38,107 |
| Total net cost | $68,720 | $152,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,490 | $55,921 |
| Median debt | $19,157 | $25,250 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 20.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $573,880 | -$1,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Colby College or University of New England?
Colby College, at $17,180 a year after aid versus $38,107 — a gap of $20,927 a year, or $83,708 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 Colby College or University of New England graduates earn more?
Colby College graduates report a median $80,490 ten years after entry, $24,569 more than the $55,921 at University of New England. 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, Colby College or University of New England?
Colby College: its completers carry a median $19,157 in federal loans versus $25,250 at University of New England, a difference of $6,093. 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 Colby College, against 68% at University of New England. 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.