Quinsigamond Community College vs Worcester Polytechnic Institute: which has better ROI?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $172,284 in 3.1 years versus not at all at Quinsigamond Community College, on median earnings of $103,470 vs $45,949 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,090 | $43,071 |
| Total net cost | $18,180 | $172,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,949 | $103,470 |
| Median debt | $16,575 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$66,400 | $929,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Quinsigamond Community College or Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Quinsigamond Community College, at $9,090 a year after aid versus $43,071 — a gap of $33,981 a year, or $154,104 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Quinsigamond Community College or Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $103,470 ten years after entry, $57,521 more than the $45,949 at Quinsigamond 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, Quinsigamond Community College or Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Quinsigamond Community College: its completers carry a median $16,575 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a difference of $10,425. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, against 22% at Quinsigamond 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.