Hampshire College vs Cambridge College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Hampshire College comes closer — median earnings $46,938 against a $96,136 total, vs $45,998 at Cambridge College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hampshire College | Cambridge College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,034 | $31,072 |
| Total net cost | $96,136 | $124,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,938 | $45,998 |
| Median debt | $26,893 | $21,791 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$124,576 | -$171,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hampshire College or Cambridge College?
Hampshire College, at $24,034 a year after aid versus $31,072 — a gap of $7,038 a year, or $28,152 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hampshire College or Cambridge College graduates earn more?
Hampshire College graduates report a median $46,938 ten years after entry, $940 more than the $45,998 at Cambridge 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, Hampshire College or Cambridge College?
Cambridge College: its completers carry a median $21,791 in federal loans versus $26,893 at Hampshire College, a difference of $5,102. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Hampshire College, against 11% at Cambridge 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.