Head-to-head comparison
Middlebury College vs Bennington College: which has better ROI?
Option A Middlebury, VT
Middlebury College
- Net price / year
- $31,483
- Earnings, 10 years
- $76,310
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Bennington, VT
Bennington College
- Net price / year
- $30,947
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,289
- Payback
- No payback
Middlebury College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,932 in 4.5 years versus not at all at Bennington College, on median earnings of $76,310 vs $38,289 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlebury College | Bennington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,483 | $30,947 |
| Total net cost | $125,932 | $123,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,310 | $38,289 |
| Median debt | $13,857 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $433,068 | -$325,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Middlebury College or Bennington College?
Bennington College, at $30,947 a year after aid versus $31,483 — a gap of $536 a year, or $2,144 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 Middlebury College or Bennington College graduates earn more?
Middlebury College graduates report a median $76,310 ten years after entry, $38,021 more than the $38,289 at Bennington 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, Middlebury College or Bennington College?
Middlebury College: its completers carry a median $13,857 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Bennington College, a difference of $12,143. 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?
91% of students finish at Middlebury College, against 71% at Bennington 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.