Head-to-head comparison
Salem State University vs Boston Architectural College: which has better ROI?
Option A Salem, MA
Salem State University
- Net price / year
- $15,996
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,662
- Payback
- 7.7 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Boston Architectural College
- Net price / year
- $25,865
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,123
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Boston Architectural College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $103,460 in 7.5 years versus 7.7 years at Salem State University, on median earnings of $62,123 vs $56,662 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Salem State University | Boston Architectural College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,996 | $25,865 |
| Total net cost | $63,984 | $103,460 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,662 | $62,123 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $37,250 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 7.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $102,056 | $171,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Salem State University or Boston Architectural College?
Salem State University, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $25,865 — a gap of $9,869 a year, or $39,476 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 Salem State University or Boston Architectural College graduates earn more?
Boston Architectural College graduates report a median $62,123 ten years after entry, $5,461 more than the $56,662 at Salem State University. 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, Salem State University or Boston Architectural College?
Salem State University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $37,250 at Boston Architectural College, a difference of $12,250. 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?
50% of students finish at Salem State University, against 32% at Boston Architectural 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.