Head-to-head comparison
Keene State College vs Rivier University: which has better ROI?
Option A Keene, NH
Keene State College
- Net price / year
- $17,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,368
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Option B Nashua, NH
Rivier University
- Net price / year
- $28,082
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,248
- Payback
- 28.9 yrs
Keene State College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,548 in 11.9 years versus 28.9 years at Rivier University, on median earnings of $54,368 vs $52,248 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Keene State College | Rivier University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,887 | $28,082 |
| Total net cost | $71,548 | $112,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,368 | $52,248 |
| Median debt | $25,749 | $26,956 |
| Payback | 11.9 yrs | 28.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $48,612 | -$34,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Keene State College or Rivier University?
Keene State College, at $17,887 a year after aid versus $28,082 — a gap of $10,195 a year, or $40,780 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 Keene State College or Rivier University graduates earn more?
Keene State College graduates report a median $54,368 ten years after entry, $2,120 more than the $52,248 at Rivier 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, Keene State College or Rivier University?
Keene State College: its completers carry a median $25,749 in federal loans versus $26,956 at Rivier University, a difference of $1,207. 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?
60% of students finish at Keene State College, against 52% at Rivier 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.