Beal University vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Atlantic comes closer — median earnings $40,264 against a $100,736 total, vs $35,639 at Beal University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Beal University | College of the Atlantic |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,109 | $25,184 |
| Total net cost | $80,218 | $100,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,639 | $40,264 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $25,050 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$334,638 | -$262,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Beal University or College of the Atlantic?
College of the Atlantic, at $25,184 a year after aid versus $40,109 — a gap of $14,925 a year, or $20,518 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Beal University or College of the Atlantic graduates earn more?
College of the Atlantic graduates report a median $40,264 ten years after entry, $4,625 more than the $35,639 at Beal University. 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, Beal University or College of the Atlantic?
Beal University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $25,050 at College of the Atlantic, a difference of $5,550. 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 College of the Atlantic, against 36% at Beal University. 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.