Massachusetts Bay Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Massachusetts Bay Community College charges a net price of $7,169/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $14,338. Graduates earn a median $52,654 ten years after entry, $4,294/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.3 years — a 20-year net return of $71,542, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Massachusetts Bay Community College's 3.3-year payback ranks #207 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 84% of them, and #16 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,169/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $14,338 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,654 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,294/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $6,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $71,542 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Massachusetts Bay Community College's own numbers. Net price $7,169 × 2 years = $14,338 total. Median earnings $52,654 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,294 a year of premium. $14,338 ÷ $4,294 = 3.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $71,542. 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 Massachusetts Bay Community College students graduate with?
A median $6,500 in federal loans among completers, or 12% of the $52,654 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Massachusetts Bay Community College students graduate?
17% finish their degree — 83% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $14,338 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $84,341 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Massachusetts Bay Community College expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $7,169 net price runs $17,714 below the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, and $35,428 less across the full degree.