Head-to-head comparison
Harvard University vs Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: which has better ROI?
Option A Cambridge, MA
Harvard University
- Net price / year
- $19,066
- Earnings, 10 years
- $101,817
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
Option B Needham, MA
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
- Net price / year
- $25,171
- Earnings, 10 years
- $129,455
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,684 in 1.2 years versus 1.4 years at Harvard University, on median earnings of $129,455 vs $101,817 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Harvard University | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,066 | $25,171 |
| Total net cost | $76,264 | $100,684 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $101,817 | $129,455 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 1.4 yrs | 1.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $992,876 | $1,521,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Harvard University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Harvard University, at $19,066 a year after aid versus $25,171 — a gap of $6,105 a year, or $24,420 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 Harvard University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates earn more?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates report a median $129,455 ten years after entry, $27,638 more than the $101,817 at Harvard 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, Harvard University or Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Harvard University: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, a difference of $5,500. 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?
98% of students finish at Harvard University, against 96% at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering. 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.