Boston College vs Worcester Polytechnic Institute: which has better ROI?
Boston College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $166,816 in 3 years versus 3.1 years at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, on median earnings of $103,937 vs $103,470 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Boston College | Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,704 | $43,071 |
| Total net cost | $166,816 | $172,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $103,937 | $103,470 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $944,724 | $929,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Boston College or Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Boston College, at $41,704 a year after aid versus $43,071 — a gap of $1,367 a year, or $5,468 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Boston College graduates report a median $103,937 ten years after entry, $467 more than the $103,470 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Boston College: its completers carry a median $19,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a difference of $8,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Boston College, against 90% at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 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.