Head-to-head comparison
Suffolk University vs Smith College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Suffolk University
- Net price / year
- $29,618
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,506
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Option B Northampton, MA
Smith College
- Net price / year
- $27,579
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,027
- Payback
- 7 yrs
Suffolk University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,472 in 6.2 years versus 7 years at Smith College, on median earnings of $67,506 vs $64,027 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Suffolk University | Smith College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,618 | $27,579 |
| Total net cost | $118,472 | $110,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,506 | $64,027 |
| Median debt | $26,889 | $17,550 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $264,448 | $203,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Suffolk University or Smith College?
Smith College, at $27,579 a year after aid versus $29,618 — a gap of $2,039 a year, or $8,156 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 Suffolk University or Smith College graduates earn more?
Suffolk University graduates report a median $67,506 ten years after entry, $3,479 more than the $64,027 at Smith 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, Suffolk University or Smith College?
Smith College: its completers carry a median $17,550 in federal loans versus $26,889 at Suffolk University, a difference of $9,339. 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 61% at Suffolk 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.