Dutchess Community College vs Vassar College: which has better ROI?
Vassar College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $157,372 in 6.8 years versus not at all at Dutchess Community College, on median earnings of $71,366 vs $43,929 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dutchess Community College | Vassar College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,065 | $39,343 |
| Total net cost | $20,130 | $157,372 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,929 | $71,366 |
| Median debt | $10,039 | $18,625 |
| Payback | — | 6.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$108,750 | $302,748 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dutchess Community College or Vassar College?
Dutchess Community College, at $10,065 a year after aid versus $39,343 — a gap of $29,278 a year, or $137,242 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dutchess Community College or Vassar College graduates earn more?
Vassar College graduates report a median $71,366 ten years after entry, $27,437 more than the $43,929 at Dutchess 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, Dutchess Community College or Vassar College?
Dutchess Community College: its completers carry a median $10,039 in federal loans versus $18,625 at Vassar College, a difference of $8,586. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Vassar College, against 30% at Dutchess 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.