Bard College vs Columbia-Greene Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia-Greene Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,441 against a $13,118 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Columbia-Greene Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $6,559 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $13,118 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $44,441 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$91,498 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Columbia-Greene Community College?
Columbia-Greene Community College, at $6,559 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $28,090 a year, or $125,478 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 Columbia-Greene Community College graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $2,102 more than the $44,441 at Columbia-Greene 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 Columbia-Greene Community College?
Columbia-Greene 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 46% at Columbia-Greene 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.