Middlesex Community College vs Williams College: which has better ROI?
Williams College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,864 in 1.8 years versus 2.3 years at Middlesex Community College, on median earnings of $88,665 vs $50,651 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlesex Community College | Williams College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,624 | $17,716 |
| Total net cost | $5,248 | $70,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,651 | $88,665 |
| Median debt | $7,291 | $12,761 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | 1.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $40,572 | $735,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Middlesex Community College or Williams College?
Middlesex Community College, at $2,624 a year after aid versus $17,716 — a gap of $15,092 a year, or $65,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Middlesex Community College or Williams College graduates earn more?
Williams College graduates report a median $88,665 ten years after entry, $38,014 more than the $50,651 at Middlesex 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, Middlesex Community College or Williams College?
Middlesex Community College: its completers carry a median $7,291 in federal loans versus $12,761 at Williams College, a difference of $5,470. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Williams College, against 23% at Middlesex 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.