Head-to-head comparison
Emerson College vs Nichols College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Emerson College
- Net price / year
- $49,180
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,832
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Option B Dudley, MA
Nichols College
- Net price / year
- $33,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,063
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Emerson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $196,720 in 13.6 years versus 13.6 years at Nichols College, on median earnings of $62,832 vs $58,063 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Emerson College | Nichols College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,180 | $33,036 |
| Total net cost | $196,720 | $132,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,832 | $58,063 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 13.6 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $92,720 | $61,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Emerson College or Nichols College?
Nichols College, at $33,036 a year after aid versus $49,180 — a gap of $16,144 a year, or $64,576 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 Emerson College or Nichols College graduates earn more?
Emerson College graduates report a median $62,832 ten years after entry, $4,769 more than the $58,063 at Nichols 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, Emerson College or Nichols College?
Emerson College: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Nichols College, a difference of $4,000. 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?
77% of students finish at Emerson College, against 63% at Nichols 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.