Head-to-head comparison
Massachusetts Bay Community College vs College of the Holy Cross: 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 Worcester, MA
College of the Holy Cross
- Net price / year
- $38,782
- Earnings, 10 years
- $90,543
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Massachusetts Bay Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $14,338 in 3.3 years versus 3.7 years at College of the Holy Cross, on median earnings of $52,654 vs $90,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Massachusetts Bay Community College | College of the Holy Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,169 | $38,782 |
| Total net cost | $14,338 | $155,128 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,654 | $90,543 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $71,542 | $688,532 |
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 College of the Holy Cross?
Massachusetts Bay Community College, at $7,169 a year after aid versus $38,782 — a gap of $31,613 a year, or $140,790 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 College of the Holy Cross graduates earn more?
College of the Holy Cross graduates report a median $90,543 ten years after entry, $37,889 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 College of the Holy Cross?
Massachusetts Bay Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at College of the Holy Cross, a difference of $20,500. 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?
87% of students finish at College of the Holy Cross, 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.