Nashua Community College vs Colby-Sawyer College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Nashua Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,164 against a $46,308 total, vs $46,474 at Colby-Sawyer College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nashua Community College | Colby-Sawyer College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,154 | $27,431 |
| Total net cost | $46,308 | $109,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,164 | $46,474 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$90,228 | -$147,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Nashua Community College or Colby-Sawyer College?
Nashua Community College, at $23,154 a year after aid versus $27,431 — a gap of $4,277 a year, or $63,416 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Nashua Community College or Colby-Sawyer College graduates earn more?
Colby-Sawyer College graduates report a median $46,474 ten years after entry, $310 more than the $46,164 at Nashua 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, Nashua Community College or Colby-Sawyer College?
Nashua Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Colby-Sawyer College, a difference of $16,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Colby-Sawyer College, against 38% at Nashua 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.