Emerson College vs Mount Holyoke College: which has better ROI?
Mount Holyoke College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,764 in 10.5 years versus 13.6 years at Emerson College, on median earnings of $58,418 vs $62,832 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Emerson College | Mount Holyoke College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,180 | $26,441 |
| Total net cost | $196,720 | $105,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,832 | $58,418 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $22,902 |
| Payback | 13.6 yrs | 10.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $92,720 | $95,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Emerson College or Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College, at $26,441 a year after aid versus $49,180 — a gap of $22,739 a year, or $90,956 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Emerson College or Mount Holyoke College graduates earn more?
Emerson College graduates report a median $62,832 ten years after entry, $4,414 more than the $58,418 at Mount Holyoke 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, Emerson College or Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College: its completers carry a median $22,902 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Emerson College, a difference of $98. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Mount Holyoke College, against 77% at Emerson 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.