Head-to-head comparison
Community College of Vermont vs Bennington College: which has better ROI?
Option A Montpelier, VT
Community College of Vermont
- Net price / year
- $13,696
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,234
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bennington, VT
Bennington College
- Net price / year
- $30,947
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,289
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Vermont comes closer — median earnings $36,234 against a $27,392 total, vs $38,289 at Bennington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Vermont | Bennington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,696 | $30,947 |
| Total net cost | $27,392 | $123,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,234 | $38,289 |
| Median debt | $10,491 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,912 | -$325,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Community College of Vermont or Bennington College?
Community College of Vermont, at $13,696 a year after aid versus $30,947 — a gap of $17,251 a year, or $96,396 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 Community College of Vermont or Bennington College graduates earn more?
Bennington College graduates report a median $38,289 ten years after entry, $2,055 more than the $36,234 at Community College of Vermont. 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, Community College of Vermont or Bennington College?
Community College of Vermont: its completers carry a median $10,491 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Bennington College, a difference of $15,509. 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?
71% of students finish at Bennington College, against 20% at Community College of Vermont. 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.