Colby College vs Maine Maritime Academy: 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 2.3 years at Maine Maritime Academy, on median earnings of $80,490 vs $89,964 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colby College | Maine Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,180 | $23,414 |
| Total net cost | $68,720 | $93,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,490 | $89,964 |
| Median debt | $19,157 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $573,880 | $738,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colby College or Maine Maritime Academy?
Colby College, at $17,180 a year after aid versus $23,414 — a gap of $6,234 a year, or $24,936 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 Maine Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Maine Maritime Academy graduates report a median $89,964 ten years after entry, $9,474 more than the $80,490 at Colby 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 Maine Maritime Academy?
Colby College: its completers carry a median $19,157 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Maine Maritime Academy, a difference of $7,843. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Colby College, against 58% at Maine Maritime Academy. 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.