Bard College vs The College of Westchester: 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 $42,215 at The College of Westchester. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bard College | The College of Westchester |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,649 | $16,296 |
| Total net cost | $138,596 | $65,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,543 | $42,215 |
| Median debt | $24,254 | $26,967 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$174,936 | -$188,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bard College or The College of Westchester?
The College of Westchester, at $16,296 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $18,353 a year, or $73,412 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 The College of Westchester graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $4,328 more than the $42,215 at The College of Westchester. 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 The College of Westchester?
Bard College: its completers carry a median $24,254 in federal loans versus $26,967 at The College of Westchester, a difference of $2,713. 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 38% at The College of Westchester. 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.