Bard College vs Metropolitan College of New York: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Metropolitan College of New York comes closer — median earnings $46,236 against a $115,528 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Metropolitan College of New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $28,882 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $115,528 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $46,236 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $27,688 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$158,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Metropolitan College of New York?
Metropolitan College of New York, at $28,882 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $5,767 a year, or $23,068 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 Metropolitan College of New York graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $307 more than the $46,236 at Metropolitan College of New York. 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 Metropolitan College of New York?
Bard College: its completers carry a median $24,254 in federal loans versus $27,688 at Metropolitan College of New York, a difference of $3,434. 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 40% at Metropolitan College of New York. 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.