Head-to-head comparison
Springfield Technical Community College vs Western New England University: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, MA
Springfield Technical Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,966
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Springfield, MA
Western New England University
- Net price / year
- $27,290
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,157
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Western New England University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $109,160 in 4.4 years versus not at all at Springfield Technical Community College, on median earnings of $73,157 vs $36,966 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Springfield Technical Community College | Western New England University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,662 | $27,290 |
| Total net cost | $11,324 | $109,160 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,966 | $73,157 |
| Median debt | $6,570 | $25,500 |
| Payback | — | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$239,204 | $386,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Springfield Technical Community College or Western New England University?
Springfield Technical Community College, at $5,662 a year after aid versus $27,290 — a gap of $21,628 a year, or $97,836 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 Springfield Technical Community College or Western New England University graduates earn more?
Western New England University graduates report a median $73,157 ten years after entry, $36,191 more than the $36,966 at Springfield Technical Community 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, Springfield Technical Community College or Western New England University?
Springfield Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $6,570 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Western New England University, a difference of $18,930. 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?
64% of students finish at Western New England University, against 32% at Springfield Technical Community 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.