Head-to-head comparison
Massachusetts Bay Community College vs Amherst College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wellesley Hills, MA
Massachusetts Bay Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,169
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,654
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Option B Amherst, MA
Amherst College
- Net price / year
- $23,367
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,644
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Amherst College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,468 in 3.2 years versus 3.3 years at Massachusetts Bay Community College, on median earnings of $77,644 vs $52,654 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Massachusetts Bay Community College | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,169 | $23,367 |
| Total net cost | $14,338 | $93,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,654 | $77,644 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $13,740 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $71,542 | $492,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Massachusetts Bay Community College or Amherst College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College, at $7,169 a year after aid versus $23,367 — a gap of $16,198 a year, or $79,130 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 Massachusetts Bay Community College or Amherst College graduates earn more?
Amherst College graduates report a median $77,644 ten years after entry, $24,990 more than the $52,654 at Massachusetts Bay Community 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, Massachusetts Bay Community College or Amherst College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $13,740 at Amherst College, a difference of $7,240. 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?
94% of students finish at Amherst College, against 17% at Massachusetts Bay Community 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.