College of Our Lady of the Elms — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Our Lady of the Elms charges a net price of $17,545/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $70,180. Graduates earn a median $51,540 ten years after entry, $3,180/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 22.1 years — a 20-year net return of -$6,580, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of Our Lady of the Elms's 22.1-year payback ranks #1,082 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 16% of them, and #54 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $17,545/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $70,180 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,540 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,180/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 22.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$6,580 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Our Lady of the Elms's own numbers. Net price $17,545 × 4 years = $70,180 total. Median earnings $51,540 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,180 a year of premium. $70,180 ÷ $3,180 = 22.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$6,580. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $51,540 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate?
68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $70,180 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $103,206 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Our Lady of the Elms expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $17,545 net price runs $7,338 below the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, and $29,352 less across the full degree.