Head-to-head comparison
Smith College vs Boston Architectural College: which has better ROI?
Option A Northampton, MA
Smith College
- Net price / year
- $27,579
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,027
- Payback
- 7 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Boston Architectural College
- Net price / year
- $25,865
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,123
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Smith College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $110,316 in 7 years versus 7.5 years at Boston Architectural College, on median earnings of $64,027 vs $62,123 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Smith College | Boston Architectural College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,579 | $25,865 |
| Total net cost | $110,316 | $103,460 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,027 | $62,123 |
| Median debt | $17,550 | $37,250 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 7.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $203,024 | $171,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Smith College or Boston Architectural College?
Boston Architectural College, at $25,865 a year after aid versus $27,579 — a gap of $1,714 a year, or $6,856 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 Smith College or Boston Architectural College graduates earn more?
Smith College graduates report a median $64,027 ten years after entry, $1,904 more than the $62,123 at Boston Architectural 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, Smith College or Boston Architectural College?
Smith College: its completers carry a median $17,550 in federal loans versus $37,250 at Boston Architectural College, a difference of $19,700. 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?
89% of students finish at Smith College, 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.