Erie Community College vs Bard College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Erie Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,228 against a $15,530 total, vs $46,543 at Bard College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Erie Community College | Bard College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,765 | $34,649 |
| Total net cost | $15,530 | $138,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,228 | $46,543 |
| Median debt | $9,250 | $24,254 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$158,170 | -$174,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Erie Community College or Bard College?
Erie Community College, at $7,765 a year after aid versus $34,649 — a gap of $26,884 a year, or $123,066 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Erie Community College or Bard College graduates earn more?
Bard College graduates report a median $46,543 ten years after entry, $5,315 more than the $41,228 at Erie 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, Erie Community College or Bard College?
Erie Community College: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $24,254 at Bard College, a difference of $15,004. 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 28% at Erie 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.