Head-to-head comparison
University of Massachusetts-Amherst vs Boston University: which has better ROI?
Option A Amherst, MA
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Net price / year
- $22,383
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,631
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Boston University
- Net price / year
- $24,402
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,238
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Boston University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,608 in 2.8 years versus 3.8 years at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, on median earnings of $83,238 vs $71,631 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Boston University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,383 | $24,402 |
| Total net cost | $89,532 | $97,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,631 | $83,238 |
| Median debt | $22,763 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $375,888 | $599,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, at $22,383 a year after aid versus $24,402 — a gap of $2,019 a year, or $8,076 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 University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University graduates earn more?
Boston University graduates report a median $83,238 ten years after entry, $11,607 more than the $71,631 at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 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, University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst: its completers carry a median $22,763 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Boston University, a difference of $487. 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 Boston University, against 83% at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 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.