Head-to-head comparison
Tufts University vs Western New England University: which has better ROI?
Option A Medford, MA
Tufts University
- Net price / year
- $39,998
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,214
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
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 4.6 years at Tufts University, on median earnings of $73,157 vs $83,214 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tufts University | Western New England University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $39,998 | $27,290 |
| Total net cost | $159,992 | $109,160 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,214 | $73,157 |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $537,088 | $386,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tufts University or Western New England University?
Western New England University, at $27,290 a year after aid versus $39,998 — a gap of $12,708 a year, or $50,832 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 Tufts University or Western New England University graduates earn more?
Tufts University graduates report a median $83,214 ten years after entry, $10,057 more than the $73,157 at Western New England 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, Tufts University or Western New England University?
Tufts University: its completers carry a median $16,250 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Western New England University, a difference of $9,250. 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?
94% of students finish at Tufts University, against 64% at Western New England 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.