CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College vs Bard College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,306 against a $9,952 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | Bard College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,976 | $34,649 |
| Total net cost | $9,952 | $138,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,306 | $46,543 |
| Median debt | $7,574 | $24,254 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$131,032 | -$174,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Bard College?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, at $4,976 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $29,673 a year, or $128,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Bard College graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $4,237 more than the $42,306 at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community 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, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Bard College?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College: its completers carry a median $7,574 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $16,680. 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 25% at CUNY Borough of Manhattan 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.