Head-to-head comparison
Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs Berkshire Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Net price / year
- $24,100
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,582
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Pittsfield, MA
Berkshire Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,921
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,832
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Massachusetts College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $43,582 against a $96,400 total, vs $38,832 at Berkshire Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Berkshire Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,100 | $9,921 |
| Total net cost | $96,400 | $19,842 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,582 | $38,832 |
| Median debt | $25,755 | $12,053 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,960 | -$210,402 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College, at $9,921 a year after aid versus $24,100 — a gap of $14,179 a year, or $76,558 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 College of Art and Design or Berkshire Community College graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates report a median $43,582 ten years after entry, $4,750 more than the $38,832 at Berkshire 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 College of Art and Design or Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College: its completers carry a median $12,053 in federal loans versus $25,755 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, a difference of $13,702. 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design, against 20% at Berkshire 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.