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Babson College vs Wellesley College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Wellesley MA · vs · Private nonprofit, Wellesley MA

The verdict

Babson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $162,056 in 2.1 years versus 2.8 years at Wellesley College, on median earnings of $123,938 vs $84,803 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBabson CollegeWellesley College
Net price / yr$40,514$25,496
Total net cost$162,056$101,984
Median earnings, 10 yrs$123,938$84,803
Median debt$20,000$10,000
Payback2.1 yrs2.8 yrs
20-year net return$1,349,504$626,876

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Babson College or Wellesley College?

Wellesley College, at $25,496 a year after aid versus $40,514 — a gap of $15,018 a year, or $60,072 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Babson College or Wellesley College graduates earn more?

Babson College graduates report a median $123,938 ten years after entry, $39,135 more than the $84,803 at Wellesley 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.

Which leaves students with less debt, Babson College or Wellesley College?

Wellesley College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Babson College, a difference of $10,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

93% of students finish at Babson College, against 92% at Wellesley 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.

Babson College vs Wellesley College: frequently asked questions

Is Babson College or Wellesley College a better value?
Babson College. It clears its $162,056 net cost in about 2.1 years versus 2.8 years at Wellesley College, on median earnings of $123,938 vs $84,803 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Babson College or Wellesley College?
Wellesley College: $25,496/yr net price after aid versus $40,514/yr at Babson College — a difference of $15,018 a year, or about $60,072 over four years.
Do Babson College or Wellesley College graduates earn more?
Babson College graduates earn a median $123,938 ten years after entry, versus $84,803 at Wellesley College — a $39,135 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.