Colby College vs Bates College: which has better ROI?
Colby College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,720 in 2.1 years versus 5.6 years at Bates College, on median earnings of $80,490 vs $69,498 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colby College | Bates College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,180 | $29,351 |
| Total net cost | $68,720 | $117,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,490 | $69,498 |
| Median debt | $19,157 | $14,275 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $573,880 | $305,356 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colby College or Bates College?
Colby College, at $17,180 a year after aid versus $29,351 — a gap of $12,171 a year, or $48,684 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Colby College or Bates College graduates earn more?
Colby College graduates report a median $80,490 ten years after entry, $10,992 more than the $69,498 at Bates 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, Colby College or Bates College?
Bates College: its completers carry a median $14,275 in federal loans versus $19,157 at Colby College, a difference of $4,882. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Bates College, against 89% at Colby 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.