Smith College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Smith College charges a net price of $27,579/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $110,316. Graduates earn a median $64,027 ten years after entry, $15,667/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7 years — a 20-year net return of $203,024, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Smith College's 7-year payback ranks #619 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 52% of them, and #36 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,579/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $110,316 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $64,027 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $15,667/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,550 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $203,024 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Smith College's own numbers. Net price $27,579 × 4 years = $110,316 total. Median earnings $64,027 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,667 a year of premium. $110,316 ÷ $15,667 = 7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $203,024. 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 Smith College students graduate with?
A median $17,550 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $64,027 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Smith College students graduate?
89% finish their degree. Spread the $110,316 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $123,951 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Smith College expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $27,579 net price runs $2,696 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $10,784 more across the full degree.