Head-to-head comparison
University of Massachusetts-Boston vs Bunker Hill Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
University of Massachusetts-Boston
- Net price / year
- $17,707
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,865
- Payback
- 4 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Bunker Hill Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,818
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,618
- Payback
- No payback
University of Massachusetts-Boston has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,828 in 4 years versus not at all at Bunker Hill Community College, on median earnings of $65,865 vs $47,618 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Massachusetts-Boston | Bunker Hill Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,707 | $7,818 |
| Total net cost | $70,828 | $15,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,865 | $47,618 |
| Median debt | $21,974 | $10,500 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $279,272 | -$30,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Massachusetts-Boston or Bunker Hill Community College?
Bunker Hill Community College, at $7,818 a year after aid versus $17,707 — a gap of $9,889 a year, or $55,192 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-Boston or Bunker Hill Community College graduates earn more?
University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates report a median $65,865 ten years after entry, $18,247 more than the $47,618 at Bunker Hill 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-Boston or Bunker Hill Community College?
Bunker Hill Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $21,974 at University of Massachusetts-Boston, a difference of $11,474. 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?
49% of students finish at University of Massachusetts-Boston, against 13% at Bunker Hill 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.