Bard College vs Cayuga County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bard College comes closer — median earnings $46,543 against a $138,596 total, vs $38,709 at Cayuga County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Cayuga County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $8,662 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $17,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $38,709 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$210,344 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Cayuga County Community College?
Cayuga County Community College, at $8,662 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $25,987 a year, or $121,272 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bard College or Cayuga County Community College graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $7,834 more than the $38,709 at Cayuga County Community 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, Bard College or Cayuga County Community College?
Cayuga County Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $12,254. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Bard College, against 30% at Cayuga County Community 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.