Head-to-head comparison
Spelman College vs Berry College: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Spelman College
- Net price / year
- $38,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,993
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Option B Mount Berry, GA
Berry College
- Net price / year
- $22,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,800
- Payback
- 16.4 yrs
Spelman College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $155,868 in 13.4 years versus 16.4 years at Berry College, on median earnings of $59,993 vs $53,800 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Spelman College | Berry College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,967 | $22,320 |
| Total net cost | $155,868 | $89,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,993 | $53,800 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 13.4 yrs | 16.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $76,792 | $19,520 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Spelman College or Berry College?
Berry College, at $22,320 a year after aid versus $38,967 — a gap of $16,647 a year, or $66,588 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 Spelman College or Berry College graduates earn more?
Spelman College graduates report a median $59,993 ten years after entry, $6,193 more than the $53,800 at Berry 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, Spelman College or Berry College?
Berry College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Spelman College, a difference of $1,750. 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?
78% of students finish at Spelman College, against 69% at Berry 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.