Bard College vs SUNY Morrisville: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SUNY Morrisville comes closer — median earnings $43,295 against a $31,878 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | SUNY Morrisville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $15,939 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $31,878 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $43,295 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $18,742 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$133,178 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or SUNY Morrisville?
SUNY Morrisville, at $15,939 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $18,710 a year, or $106,718 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 SUNY Morrisville graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $3,248 more than the $43,295 at SUNY Morrisville. 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 SUNY Morrisville?
SUNY Morrisville: its completers carry a median $18,742 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $5,512. 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 28% at SUNY Morrisville. 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.