Bristol Community College vs Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bristol Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,663 against a $11,094 total, vs $27,803 at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bristol Community College | Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,547 | $31,895 |
| Total net cost | $11,094 | $127,580 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,663 | $27,803 |
| Median debt | $8,243 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$205,034 | -$538,720 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bristol Community College or Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth?
Bristol Community College, at $5,547 a year after aid versus $31,895 — a gap of $26,348 a year, or $116,486 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bristol Community College or Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth graduates earn more?
Bristol Community College graduates report a median $38,663 ten years after entry, $10,860 more than the $27,803 at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth. 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, Bristol Community College or Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth?
Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $8,243 at Bristol Community College, a difference of $1,910. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth, against 22% at Bristol Community 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.