Head-to-head comparison
Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs Cambridge 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 Boston, MA
Cambridge College
- Net price / year
- $31,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,998
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cambridge College comes closer — median earnings $45,998 against a $124,288 total, vs $43,582 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Cambridge College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,100 | $31,072 |
| Total net cost | $96,400 | $124,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,582 | $45,998 |
| Median debt | $25,755 | $21,791 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,960 | -$171,528 |
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 Cambridge College?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, at $24,100 a year after aid versus $31,072 — a gap of $6,972 a year, or $27,888 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 Cambridge College graduates earn more?
Cambridge College graduates report a median $45,998 ten years after entry, $2,416 more than the $43,582 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. 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 Cambridge College?
Cambridge College: its completers carry a median $21,791 in federal loans versus $25,755 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, a difference of $3,964. 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 11% at Cambridge 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.