Bunker Hill Community College vs The New England Conservatory of Music: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bunker Hill Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,618 against a $15,636 total, vs $34,483 at The New England Conservatory of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bunker Hill Community College | The New England Conservatory of Music |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,818 | $46,754 |
| Total net cost | $15,636 | $187,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,618 | $34,483 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,476 | -$464,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bunker Hill Community College or The New England Conservatory of Music?
Bunker Hill Community College, at $7,818 a year after aid versus $46,754 — a gap of $38,936 a year, or $171,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bunker Hill Community College or The New England Conservatory of Music graduates earn more?
Bunker Hill Community College graduates report a median $47,618 ten years after entry, $13,135 more than the $34,483 at The New England Conservatory of Music. 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, Bunker Hill Community College or The New England Conservatory of Music?
Bunker Hill Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at The New England Conservatory of Music, a difference of $16,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at The New England Conservatory of Music, against 13% at Bunker Hill 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.