Head-to-head comparison
Framingham State University vs Nichols College: which has better ROI?
Option A Framingham, MA
Framingham State University
- Net price / year
- $16,114
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,349
- Payback
- 16.2 yrs
Option B Dudley, MA
Nichols College
- Net price / year
- $33,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,063
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Nichols College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,144 in 13.6 years versus 16.2 years at Framingham State University, on median earnings of $58,063 vs $52,349 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Framingham State University | Nichols College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,114 | $33,036 |
| Total net cost | $64,456 | $132,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,349 | $58,063 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 16.2 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $15,324 | $61,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Framingham State University or Nichols College?
Framingham State University, at $16,114 a year after aid versus $33,036 — a gap of $16,922 a year, or $67,688 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 Framingham State University or Nichols College graduates earn more?
Nichols College graduates report a median $58,063 ten years after entry, $5,714 more than the $52,349 at Framingham State University. 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, Framingham State University or Nichols College?
Framingham State University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Nichols College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
63% of students finish at Nichols College, against 48% at Framingham State 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.