Bard College vs Erie 1 BOCES: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Erie 1 BOCES comes closer — median earnings $47,114 against a $51,948 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Erie 1 BOCES |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $12,987 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $51,948 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $47,114 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$76,868 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Erie 1 BOCES?
Erie 1 BOCES, at $12,987 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $21,662 a year, or $86,648 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 Erie 1 BOCES graduates earn more?
Erie 1 BOCES graduates report a median $47,114 ten years after entry, $571 more than the $46,543 at Bard 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 Erie 1 BOCES?
Erie 1 BOCES: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $14,754. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Erie 1 BOCES, against 68% at Bard 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.