Bard College vs Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences: 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 $29,699 at Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $29,688 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $59,376 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $29,699 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $22,146 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$432,596 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences?
Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences, at $29,688 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $4,961 a year, or $79,220 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 Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $16,844 more than the $29,699 at Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences. 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 Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences?
Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences: its completers carry a median $22,146 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $2,108. 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 57% at Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences. 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.