Fitchburg State University vs Mount Holyoke College: which has better ROI?
Fitchburg State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,048 in 10.3 years versus 10.5 years at Mount Holyoke College, on median earnings of $53,874 vs $58,418 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fitchburg State University | Mount Holyoke College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,262 | $26,441 |
| Total net cost | $57,048 | $105,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,874 | $58,418 |
| Median debt | $24,239 | $22,902 |
| Payback | 10.3 yrs | 10.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $53,232 | $95,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fitchburg State University or Mount Holyoke College?
Fitchburg State University, at $14,262 a year after aid versus $26,441 — a gap of $12,179 a year, or $48,716 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fitchburg State University or Mount Holyoke College graduates earn more?
Mount Holyoke College graduates report a median $58,418 ten years after entry, $4,544 more than the $53,874 at Fitchburg State University. 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, Fitchburg State University or Mount Holyoke College?
Mount Holyoke College: its completers carry a median $22,902 in federal loans versus $24,239 at Fitchburg State University, a difference of $1,337. 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 55% at Fitchburg State University. 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.