Beal University vs Maine College of Art & Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Maine College of Art & Design comes closer — median earnings $40,778 against a $153,352 total, vs $35,639 at Beal University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Beal University | Maine College of Art & Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $40,109 | $38,338 |
| Total net cost | $80,218 | $153,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,639 | $40,778 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$334,638 | -$304,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Beal University or Maine College of Art & Design?
Maine College of Art & Design, at $38,338 a year after aid versus $40,109 — a gap of $1,771 a year, or $73,134 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 Maine College of Art & Design graduates earn more?
Maine College of Art & Design graduates report a median $40,778 ten years after entry, $5,139 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 Maine College of Art & Design?
Beal University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Maine College of Art & Design, a difference of $7,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at Maine College of Art & Design, 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.