Head-to-head comparison
Northeastern University vs Wellesley College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Northeastern University
- Net price / year
- $30,915
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,538
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Option B Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College
- Net price / year
- $25,496
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,803
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Northeastern University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $123,660 in 2.8 years versus 2.8 years at Wellesley College, on median earnings of $92,538 vs $84,803 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northeastern University | Wellesley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,915 | $25,496 |
| Total net cost | $123,660 | $101,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $92,538 | $84,803 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $10,000 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $759,900 | $626,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northeastern University or Wellesley College?
Wellesley College, at $25,496 a year after aid versus $30,915 — a gap of $5,419 a year, or $21,676 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 Northeastern University or Wellesley College graduates earn more?
Northeastern University graduates report a median $92,538 ten years after entry, $7,735 more than the $84,803 at Wellesley 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, Northeastern University or Wellesley College?
Wellesley College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Northeastern University, a difference of $14,250. 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?
92% of students finish at Wellesley College, against 91% at Northeastern University. 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.