Head-to-head comparison
Middlesex Community College vs Massachusetts Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Bedford, MA
Middlesex Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,624
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,651
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Option B Buzzards Bay, MA
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Net price / year
- $21,582
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,392
- Payback
- 2.5 yrs
Middlesex Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $5,248 in 2.3 years versus 2.5 years at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, on median earnings of $50,651 vs $82,392 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlesex Community College | Massachusetts Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,624 | $21,582 |
| Total net cost | $5,248 | $86,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,651 | $82,392 |
| Median debt | $7,291 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $40,572 | $594,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Middlesex Community College or Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Middlesex Community College, at $2,624 a year after aid versus $21,582 — a gap of $18,958 a year, or $81,080 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 Middlesex Community College or Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates report a median $82,392 ten years after entry, $31,741 more than the $50,651 at Middlesex 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, Middlesex Community College or Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Middlesex Community College: its completers carry a median $7,291 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a difference of $17,709. 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?
74% of students finish at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, against 23% at Middlesex 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.