Head-to-head comparison
Salem State University vs Mount Holyoke 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 South Hadley, MA
Mount Holyoke College
- Net price / year
- $26,441
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,418
- Payback
- 10.5 yrs
Salem State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,984 in 7.7 years versus 10.5 years at Mount Holyoke College, on median earnings of $56,662 vs $58,418 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Salem State University | Mount Holyoke College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,996 | $26,441 |
| Total net cost | $63,984 | $105,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,662 | $58,418 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $22,902 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 10.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $102,056 | $95,396 |
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 Mount Holyoke College?
Salem State University, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $26,441 — a gap of $10,445 a year, or $41,780 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 Mount Holyoke College graduates earn more?
Mount Holyoke College graduates report a median $58,418 ten years after entry, $1,756 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 Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College: its completers carry a median $22,902 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Salem State University, a difference of $2,098. 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?
84% of students finish at Mount Holyoke College, against 50% at Salem State 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.