Head-to-head comparison
Gordon College vs College of Our Lady of the Elms: which has better ROI?
Option A Wenham, MA
Gordon College
- Net price / year
- $24,883
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,119
- Payback
- 26.5 yrs
Option B Chicopee, MA
College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Net price / year
- $17,545
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,540
- Payback
- 22.1 yrs
College of Our Lady of the Elms has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,180 in 22.1 years versus 26.5 years at Gordon College, on median earnings of $51,540 vs $52,119 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gordon College | College of Our Lady of the Elms |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,883 | $17,545 |
| Total net cost | $99,532 | $70,180 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,119 | $51,540 |
| Median debt | $26,250 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 26.5 yrs | 22.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$24,352 | -$6,580 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gordon College or College of Our Lady of the Elms?
College of Our Lady of the Elms, at $17,545 a year after aid versus $24,883 — a gap of $7,338 a year, or $29,352 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 Gordon College or College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates earn more?
Gordon College graduates report a median $52,119 ten years after entry, $579 more than the $51,540 at College of Our Lady of the Elms. 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, Gordon College or College of Our Lady of the Elms?
College of Our Lady of the Elms: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,250 at Gordon College, a difference of $1,250. 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?
69% of students finish at Gordon College, against 68% at College of Our Lady of the Elms. 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.