Saint Michael's College vs Bennington College: which has better ROI?
Saint Michael's College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,956 in 7.8 years versus not at all at Bennington College, on median earnings of $61,317 vs $38,289 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Michael's College | Bennington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,239 | $30,947 |
| Total net cost | $100,956 | $123,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,317 | $38,289 |
| Median debt | $26,922 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 7.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $158,184 | -$325,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Michael's College or Bennington College?
Saint Michael's College, at $25,239 a year after aid versus $30,947 — a gap of $5,708 a year, or $22,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Michael's College or Bennington College graduates earn more?
Saint Michael's College graduates report a median $61,317 ten years after entry, $23,028 more than the $38,289 at Bennington 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, Saint Michael's College or Bennington College?
Bennington College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,922 at Saint Michael's College, a difference of $922. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Saint Michael's College, against 71% at Bennington 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.