Nichols College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Nichols College charges a net price of $33,036/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $132,144. Graduates earn a median $58,063 ten years after entry, $9,703/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.6 years — a 20-year net return of $61,916, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Nichols College's 13.6-year payback ranks #919 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 28% of them, and #48 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $33,036/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $132,144 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,063 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,703/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 13.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $61,916 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Nichols College's own numbers. Net price $33,036 × 4 years = $132,144 total. Median earnings $58,063 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,703 a year of premium. $132,144 ÷ $9,703 = 13.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $61,916. 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 Nichols College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $58,063 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Nichols College students graduate?
63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $132,144 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $209,752 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Nichols College expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $33,036 net price runs $8,153 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $32,612 more across the full degree.