Boston College vs Amherst College: which has better ROI?
Boston College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $166,816 in 3 years versus 3.2 years at Amherst College, on median earnings of $103,937 vs $77,644 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boston College | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,704 | $23,367 |
| Total net cost | $166,816 | $93,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $103,937 | $77,644 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $13,740 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $944,724 | $492,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Boston College or Amherst College?
Amherst College, at $23,367 a year after aid versus $41,704 — a gap of $18,337 a year, or $73,348 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Boston College or Amherst College graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates report a median $103,937 ten years after entry, $26,293 more than the $77,644 at Amherst College. 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, Boston College or Amherst College?
Amherst College: its completers carry a median $13,740 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Boston College, a difference of $5,260. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Amherst College, against 91% at Boston College. 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.