Culinary Institute of America vs Bard College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Culinary Institute of America comes closer — median earnings $47,475 against a $72,226 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Culinary Institute of America | Bard College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,113 | $34,649 |
| Total net cost | $72,226 | $138,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,475 | $46,543 |
| Median debt | $15,750 | $24,254 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,926 | -$174,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Culinary Institute of America or Bard College?
Bard College, at $34,649 a year after aid versus $36,113 — a gap of $1,464 a year, or $66,370 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Culinary Institute of America or Bard College graduates earn more?
Culinary Institute of America graduates report a median $47,475 ten years after entry, $932 more than the $46,543 at Bard 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, Culinary Institute of America or Bard College?
Culinary Institute of America: its completers carry a median $15,750 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $8,504. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Bard College, against 63% at Culinary Institute of America. 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.