Head-to-head comparison
Norwich University vs Bennington College: which has better ROI?
Option A Northfield, VT
Norwich University
- Net price / year
- $22,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,575
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Option B Bennington, VT
Bennington College
- Net price / year
- $30,947
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,289
- Payback
- No payback
Norwich University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,028 in 5.2 years versus not at all at Bennington College, on median earnings of $65,575 vs $38,289 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Norwich University | Bennington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,257 | $30,947 |
| Total net cost | $89,028 | $123,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,575 | $38,289 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 5.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $255,272 | -$325,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Norwich University or Bennington College?
Norwich University, at $22,257 a year after aid versus $30,947 — a gap of $8,690 a year, or $34,760 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 Norwich University or Bennington College graduates earn more?
Norwich University graduates report a median $65,575 ten years after entry, $27,286 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, Norwich University or Bennington College?
Norwich University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Bennington College, a difference of $1,000. 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?
71% of students finish at Bennington College, against 60% at Norwich 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.