Head-to-head comparison
University of Massachusetts-Amherst vs Massachusetts Bay Community College: 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 Wellesley Hills, MA
Massachusetts Bay Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,169
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,654
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Massachusetts Bay Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $14,338 in 3.3 years versus 3.8 years at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, on median earnings of $52,654 vs $71,631 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Massachusetts Bay Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,383 | $7,169 |
| Total net cost | $89,532 | $14,338 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,631 | $52,654 |
| Median debt | $22,763 | $6,500 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $375,888 | $71,542 |
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 Massachusetts Bay Community College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College, at $7,169 a year after aid versus $22,383 — a gap of $15,214 a year, or $75,194 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 Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates earn more?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduates report a median $71,631 ten years after entry, $18,977 more than the $52,654 at Massachusetts Bay 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, University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Massachusetts Bay Community College?
Massachusetts Bay Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $22,763 at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a difference of $16,263. 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?
83% of students finish at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, against 17% at Massachusetts Bay 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.